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.
The Bulls, who have played a road-heavy schedule so far, improved to 5-5 at home and 16-9 overall.