All About the Butler
Butler continues to dominate games for the Bulls. The 27-year-old wing is coming off Eastern Conference Player of the week honors, after putting up 40 points against the Lakers inside the always dark Staples Center.
In the loss to the Nuggets, Butler scored or assisted on seven of the Bulls first nine possessions. He looked to attack Danilo Gallinari early and often. Butler had back-to-back amazing plays in the second quarter. He caught a wonderful lob from Rondo. And then a play later, he tip-saved a long Rondo breakaway pass to Mirotic for an easy layup.
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/801257945199611904
Butler finished the night with 35 points, five assists and eight rebounds. He shot 11-22 from the floor, and 11-12 from the charity stripe. Butler finished the game with a + 18, the best of both teams by far. The next closest Bull was Gibson at +13. Rondo fished at +3, and Wade was a 0 for the evening.
He hit three clutch free throws after drawing a foul on Mudiay. Then he took a charge near half court that wasn’t called. And then he hit the game-tying 3-pointer.
Jimmy. Gets. Buckets. #Clutch pic.twitter.com/FDQm6PGizi
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 23, 2016
And when the Bulls needed him one last time at the end of regulation, Hoiberg tried to call the play for him but the Nuggets sold-out on the two-time All Star.
Now to the most important matter of business: Can someone else on the Bulls step up and help Butler?