Butler's career night lifts Bulls over Knicks
Thursday's game between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks lacked some star power without Carmelo Anthony, Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson, but it didn't lack drama.
Jimmy Butler poured in a career-high 35 points to go with seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and a block, Pau Gasol added 20 points and seven rebounds and Aaron Brooks chipped in 18 points off the bench to help the Bulls hold off the Knicks 103-97.
Even with the Bulls missing Rose (illness) and Gibson (ankle), that the Melo-less Knicks hung around in Chicago for as long as they did was surprising, especially considering they started Travis Wear and Cole Aldrich.
For what it's worth, Aldrich did post a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way for the Knicks with 23 points while Amar'e Stoudemire added 16 points in a surprise start after the Knicks originally said the veteran big man would be rested.
Anthony was forced to sit out due to his troublesome left knee.
A key swing-factor for the Bulls was their advantage at the free-throw line, where they made 23 of 30 attempts while the Knicks got to the charity stripe only 19 times.
That free throw discrepancy has been a common theme during the Knicks' atrocious 5-23 start.
That was 13th game Knicks' opponent shot 10+ more free throws than they did. Free throw discrepancy (worst of last 16 years) gets worse.
— John Schuhmann (@johnschuhmann) December 19, 2014
The Bulls, who have played a road-heavy schedule so far, improved to 5-5 at home and 16-9 overall.