New York Knicks (14-59) at Chicago Bulls (44-29), 8 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Chicago Bulls continue their pursuit for a Central Division title Saturday night when they welcome the New York Knicks to the United Center.
The Bulls have already clinched a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference and trail the Cleveland Cavaliers by 2 1/2 games for the division lead as well as the No. 2 seed in the conference.
On Wednesday. the Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors, 116-103, at Air Canada Centre.
Jimmy Butler had 23 points, Pau Gasol scored 18 and the Bulls rallied in the fourth quarter to sweep the season series with the Raptors.
Tony Snell scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter for the Bulls, who have won four of five on the heels of a 1-5 stretch. Nikola Mirotic finished with 15 points and Aaron Brooks scored 16 in the win.
"We just want to win as many games and get in a rhythm and get rolling heading into the playoffs," Butler said.
The Bulls took their first lead since the opening minutes of the game on Mirotic's layup with 5:47 remaining, which followed Kirk Hinrich's deep shot from the right corner.
The shots were part of a 25-8 run over the final seven minutes of the game as the Bulls never trailed again.
The Knicks own the worst record in the NBA and have dropped six straight. They've lost four consecutive games as the visitor.
The skid reached six thanks to a 96-92 home loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday.
Andrea Bargnani had 25 points and seven boards for the Knicks. Shane Larkin added 14, followed by 12 apiece from Langston Galloway and Cleanthony Early. Jason Smith chipped in 10 off the bench.
"We've got to keep playing and keep our heads up," said Bargnani. "It's about pride and it's about keep getting better and what we're trying to build here."
The Celtics took a nine-point lead with four minutes to go, but the Knicks didn't lay down.
New York responded with the next six points to keep within striking distance and a 3-pointer from Galloway with 25.9 seconds saw the Knicks back four at 92-88.
They were unable to make it a one-possession game, though, until Smith hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds to play and the Knicks were unable to get a shot off after Avery Bradley missed his second free throw.
The Bulls won both encounters with the Knicks this season and are 9-2 in their last 11 versus New York. The Bulls have won seven in a row as the host in this series.