It was another good game from Jimmy Butler and the Chicago Bulls as they never trailed and beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-106, winning their fifth game in a row and continuing their great play.
Hot shooting to start the game
The Bulls started this game shooting lights out as they got off to a quick 10-0 lead to start the game. Jimmy Butler, who had a career game against the Toronto Raptors the last time out, got off to a hot start as he scored 12 points in the opening quarter. But it wasn't just Butler who was shooting lights out. Chicago as a whole shot a whopping 63 percent from the field as they held a 36-28 lead after the first quarter. Butler led the way for Chicago with his tally and Kris Middleton helped Milwaukee stay in the first quarter with 11 points.
Both teams continued to shoot very well from the field as the game looked to be a game of 'Who can reach 100 points first'. The Bucks made it a game in the second quarter as they went on crazy spurts as Chicago began to pull away to keep themselves in the game. The Bucks scored 22 points in a span of seven minutes to close the gap in the second quarter to 48-43. But the Bulls finished the half strong with Butler and Pau Gasol, who had a great second quarter to take a 67-61 lead into the half. Butler had 20 at the half while Gasol had 13 for the Bulls. Middleton continued to have a great game as he had 18 first half points for the Bucks.
Chicago begins to pull away from the Bucks
It was more of the same for both teams as the high scoring pace of the game remained after the half. Again, it was Butler who led the way. The former Marquette man had 28 points and 10 assists at the end of the third as he continued his crazy scoring run. But the Bucks remained in the game as they showed that the Bulls weren't the only high scoring team in the game. It was Chicago who took a 94-89 lead into the fourth quarter but this was anybody's ball game.
The fourth quarter was when Chicago began to pull away as the Bulls got help from someone other than Butler. Pau Gasol would score seven points in the final five minutes of regulation to elevate the Bulls. Taj Gibson also stepped up in the fourth quarter as he finished with 11 points, 14 rebounds, and a staggering six blocked shots. This gave Chicago enough fire power to pull away from the Bucks as they finished with a 117-106 victory.
Top Performers
All 10 starters in this game scored in double figures.
Bucks: Khris Middleton led the team with 26 points (10-of-21) and seven assists. Michael Carter-Williams added a double-double with 20 points and 12 assists. Greg Monroe finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 18 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Bulls: Jimmy Butler led all scorers with 32 points (11-of-21) and 10 assists. Pau Gasol produced another double-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Derrick Rose added 16 points and six assists.
Up Next
Milwaukee will host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Chicago will stay home and host the Boston Celtics on Thursday.