Butler Guides Bulls Past Bucks, NBA Scores

After making a statement off the court, Jimmy Butler has taken his game to a new level. Butler had 32 points and a season-high 10 assists to lead the streaking Chicago Bulls to a 117-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Pau Gasol scored 26 points with 11 rebounds, and Taj Gibson added 11 points and 14 boards as the Bulls led the entire way in their season-best fifth straight win.

Butler was critical of coach Fred Hoiberg after a blowout loss to the Knicks on Dec. 19, saying, "we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times."

Since then, the Bulls have picked up their game by scoring 100 or more points in eight straight games.

"It wasn't what I said, or what anybody else said, it's what we said together as a team in that locker room. Everybody knows, and that's, we have a really good team on paper, and out there on the court, but if we don't play for one another, if we don't stick together, we're not a real good team," Butler said.

Derrick Rose returned to the Bulls after missing three games with a sore right hamstring. He showed no effects of the injury and took the ball to the basket all night, finishing with 16 points.

Tuesday, January 5 Scoreboard

New York 107, Atlanta 101

Chicago 117, Milwaukee 106
    
Dallas 117, Sacramento 116 (2OT)

Golden State 109, Los Angeles 88

Wednesday, January 6 Schedule (All Times Central)

New York at Miami, 6: p.m.

Indiana at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Cleveland at Washington, 6 p.m.

Detroit at Boston, 6:30 p.m.

Toronto at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

Denver at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Dallas at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Utah at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Charlotte at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Memphis at Oklahoma City, 8:30 p.m.

Los Angeles at Portland, 9 p.m.