Butler Guides Bulls To Win Over Pelicans, NBA Scores

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Published on April 3 2017 6:21 am
Last Updated on April 3 2017 6:21 am

By ESPN

Jimmy Butler defied any inclination to give in to fatigue, and the rest of the Chicago Bulls followed suit with the kind of performance that left little doubt about their desire to make the playoffs.

Taking the court on the Gulf Coast one night after a narrow victory on the shores of Lake Michigan, Butler poured in 39 points to lead Chicago to a 117-110 win over the recently resurgent New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.

"I just want to win. I think my will to do that is going to overcome all the fatigue," Butler said. "At this time of the year, everybody's tired, everybody's nicked up. But when you have mental toughness, you overcome all that."

Butler made 14 of 26 shots, including all three of his 3-point shots, to help the Bulls win for the fifth time in six games. The All-Star guard's final points came on a step-back jumper with 20 seconds left to stem a late Pelicans run.

Chicago took sole possession of seventh in the Eastern Conference after beating a Pelicans squad that came in having won eight of 11 and six straight at home.

Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg marveled at the way Butler was "just shooting from all over the floor, the rhythm that he had going ... just rising up and shooting it like there is nobody else in the gym."

"It was a great performance to get us going, get us a nice lead at halftime, and hold out down the stretch."

Butler hit nine of his first 11 shots and it didn't seem to matter who guarded him. He made everything from a short step-back fade over the 6-foot-11 Davis to decisive mid-range jumpers coming off of screens and a pair of 3s in the first half, when he had 25 points.

"He made some tough shots, shots off one leg, turnarounds, contested," said Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, who had 30 points and 11 rebounds. "I think they played a little harder than us and it showed with the offensive rebounds, with the 50-50 balls."

Bobby Portis, who finished with 21 points, hit six of his first seven shots. His and Butler's accuracy helped Chicago shoot nearly 57 percent during the first half. The Bulls led by as many as 19 in the second quarter before going into the halftime up 63-47.

Chicago still led by 13 with less than three minutes left, but New Orleans quickly got as close as six when Davis' jumper capped a 7-0 run that began with Jrue Holiday's 3.

However, New Orleans missed a chance to get closer when Paul Zipser blocked Holiday's transition layup with 36 seconds left. Butler then drained his final basket, a 20-footer over Holiday from the right side, to help the Bulls close it out comfortably.


Cavaliers 135, Pacers 130

The playoffs are nearing. The Cavaliers are already feeling the pressure.

LeBron James made a big 3-pointer in the final minute of the second overtime and scored 41 points to offset 43 by Indiana's Paul George, and Cleveland opened its April schedule with an emotional 135-130 win Sunday over the Pacers, who remain on the outside of the postseason in the Eastern Conference.

James added 15 rebounds and 11 assists in 52 exhausting minutes -- his most in more than four years -- for the defending NBA champions, whose win was overshadowed by an angry exchange between James and teammate Tristan Thompson during a timeout late in the second OT.

James accepted blame for the argument and said he apologized to Thompson.

"I had good intentions but I was a little bit too demonstrative at that point in the game," he said. "I can't show up my teammates. Double T worked hard, he's a big-time player for our team. I had good intentions of what I wanted to happen, but the way it came out, it didn't look good on TV."

Thompson was reluctant to discuss the incident.

"We're family," Thompson said. "Little miscommunication in the huddle. Move forward. We're family. Got each other's back always. Move forward."

Pressed for more details, Thompson got defensive.

"Not going to get into it," he snapped. "Like I said, just miscommunication. Move forward. It is what it is. Got the win, on to Orlando."

Kyrie Irving made four free throws in the final 16.5 seconds and Kevin Love had 20 points and 12 rebounds as Cleveland stayed within a half-game of Boston for the East's top spot. The Cavs visit the Celtics on Wednesday.

George was magnificent in defeat, scoring 19 straight points in the overtimes and adding nine rebounds and nine assists. But he couldn't prevent the Pacers from their eighth straight road loss.

"If we play like that to finish the season off I'll be happy with where we land," George said. "If we can give this effort, we'll make the playoffs."

C.J. Miles added a season-high 27 points for Indiana, tied with Miami for the No. 8 spot with five games left. However, the Heat have the tiebreaker.

After going 7-10 in March, the Cavs began their postseason push with a solid win. But they still had lapses in focus and execution, and Thompson was screaming mad after a blown defensive assignment allowed George to hit a 3 that pulled the Pacers within 128-127 with 49 seconds left.

Love followed with a 3-pointer, and after Indiana called timeout, a heated Thompson stormed to the bench and shouted at James. Thompson walked away and sat on the scorer's table by himself. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue came over, grabbed his arm and tried to get his players to make up.

"That's part of the game," Lue said. "You like to see that passion, and a lot of times take it out on the other team. They were both mad and frustrated, but that's what you want to see. We wanted to win that game and it was a big play. Some miscommunication right there, but they got over it."


Sunday, April 2 Scoreboard

Boston 110, New York 94

Charlotte 113, Oklahoma City 101

Los Angeles Lakers 108, Memphis 103

Dallas 109, Milwaukee 105

San Antonio 109, Utah 103

Chicago 117, New Orleans 110

Toronto 113, Philadelphia 105

Brooklyn 91, Atlanta 82

Denver 116, Miami 113

Cleveland 135, Indiana 130 (2OT)

Golden  State 139, Washington 115

Houston 123, Phoenix 116


Monday, April 3 Schedule (Time Central)

Portland at Minnesota, 6 p.m.