Butler helps Bulls pull away from Knicks for 108-81 victory

Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic scored 17 points apiece for the Bulls.

NY scored a franchise-worst eight points during the final period of play. Jose Calderon contributed 18 points.

While Chicago’s Derrick Rose uncertain to play, the Knicks hope to stay focused under hard circumstances Friday night when they look to end a nine-game skid at the United Center. He also wrote about how a former teammate “went behind my back, messed w/ my ex, got caught, got dealt w/ for being a snake, then ran & told the Police & NBA”.

With more than six minutes left in the game, and ten seconds remaining on the shot clock, and the Bulls leading the Knicks by 13 points, Nikola Mirotic just went ahead and pulled up from 35 feet and nailed a three right in Carmelo Anthony’s grill.

The Knicks started to chip away as they cut the Chicago lead to 10.

The Knicks at one point in the game trailed by 17, but fought their way back into the game and even took the lead in the third quarter with a hook shot by Kristaps Porzingis that made it 67-65. Bulls C Joakim Noah missed his fifth consecutive game because of a left shoulder sprain.

“He’ll get retested, re-evaluated on Monday and then we’ll have a better idea with how long he’ll be out”, Hoiberg said.

When asked about a timetable for Noah’s return if he gets cleared on Monday, Hoiberg said it will depend on what the doctors say.

MIAMI – Hassan Whiteside had 25 points and 19 rebounds to lead Miami past Dallas at AmericanAirlines Arena. Chris Bosh scored 16 points and Goran Dragic had 15 points and seven assists. Miami adjusted its starting lineup shortly before tip-off when Dwyane Wade was stricken by flu-like symptoms. The Bulls closed the game on a 24-4 run.

Zaza Pachulia registered 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks.

In Toronto, the Raptors defeated the Charlotte Hornets 104-94.

Kemba Walker scored 18 points and Marvin Williams scored 17 for the Hornets, who have lost two in a row.

“We had some shots that didn’t go in to start the fourth quarter and I thought we got discouraged and we let our energy get turned around the other way and it just kind of snowballed from there”, Knicks coach Derek Fisher said. The New York Knicks are shooting 33.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.1 percent from the free throw line.

Elsewhere, the Washington Wizards downed the Orlando Magic 103-91 and the Los Angeles Lakers prevailed 93-84 against fellow strugglers the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wall had 12 points in the fourth quarter, and Kris Humphries scored 11.

Another great start to a quarter came for the Bulls as they went on a quick 5-0 run to give them an 82-73 lead, forcing the Knicks to take a much needed timeout.

Portis averaged 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in the three-game homestand.