Butler's accuracy leads Chicago Bulls over Bucks
MILWAUKEE — Jimmy Butler took his time getting dressed, saved the shirt for last and finally pulled on his old light blue Marquette jersey before conducting Sunday's postgame interview.
Butler posted some crazy numbers in his college home of Milwaukee, hitting 10 of 11 shots from the field for 25 points and 8 assists. The Chicago Bulls kept their fading playoff hopes alive by jumping to an early lead and holding off the Bucks 102-98 at the Bradley Center.
Butler topped off his night by making some colorful statements when asked about being the guy with the ball in his hands at crunchtime.
“I like all the weight on my shoulders, to tell you the truth,” he said. “It will only make me better. I love criticism because I love to silence my doubters.”
There wasn't much to criticize the past two nights. He missed 1 shot Sunday, less than 24 hours after posting his first career triple-double, piling up 28 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists in Saturday's home loss to Detroit.
It was a miracle Butler had anything left in the tank after getting some rough treatment against the Pistons. He fell hard on his already sore back when fouled on a fastbreak, then took a knee to the ribs late in the game when he was called for a pivotal blocking foul against Detroit guard Reggie Jackson. Butler was slow to get up both times.
“I took great care of my body last night, too. So that was big,” Butler said. “I had people texting me, calling me all night telling me what I should do. It was pretty annoying, but I got it done.
“I was hurting a little bit (Sunday morning), but that's part of the game, part of the job.”
According to ESPN, Butler is the first Bulls player to score at least 25 points with 90-percent shooting since Scottie Pippen in 1991. Pippen had an amazing stat line on Feb. 23, 1991, hitting 16 of 17 shots for 43 points against Charlotte at the Stadium.
The Bulls (39-38) raced to a 57-41 advantage at halftime Sunday, then it was a matter of whether they had enough energy to finish off the win. They played once again without Derrick Rose (hyperextended left elbow) and Taj Gibson (broken rib).
The Bucks closed within a basket several times down the stretch and the Bulls found an answer every time. With the Bulls clinging to a 2-point lead, Justin Holiday caught a pass from Butler and buried a corner jumper with 1:17 left.
“I knew I was going to catch and shoot it when I saw my man leave and go to Jimmy,” Holiday said. “That's all I was thinking, ‘When you catch it, just knock it down.' ”
After a pair of free throws again pulled Milwaukee within 2 points, Butler got aggressive and pulled up from 17 feet to hit the clinching jumper with 51.7 seconds remaining.
Nikola Mirotic added 19 points for the Bulls and Pau Gasol scored 16. Indiana beat New York on Sunday, so the Bulls remained 2 games behind the eighth-place Pacers with five left to play. The Bulls do own the tiebreaker with Indiana.
The Bulls now have a three-game road winning streak, which is timely since their next two games are at Memphis and Miami.
“We've got to go out and worry about ourselves, put a complete game together and give ourselves a chance,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “That's all we can ask for.”
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