Raptors Can’t Hold Off Bulls

Butler eclipsed Jordan’s record with a free throw that gave the Bulls a two point lead late and they held on to that lead after Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

“Dominant, outstanding”, centre Pau Gasol said of Butler’s 42-point afternoon which was really more about the 40-point second half in the Bulls’ 115-113 win over the Raptors.

For Butler, he breaks that Michael Jordan guy’s (kidding, of course) record for points in a half.

Butler was hitting everything from free throws to floating jumpers to layups, and three-pointers, including a dagger in Carroll’s face for a four-point play that would seize the Bulls a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Chicago Bulls, winners of three straight, to a blowout 108-81 home victory over the New York Knicks.

“Don’t compare me to him”, Butler said.

“He didn’t do it on objective, but it does mess up my swagger so I can’t go on a date for a while”, Butler said after the game. “Obviously, scoring 40 in the half, it’s something you don’t see every day, so I’m just proud of him”.

“I was mad, but I just came out and was aggressive after that”, Butler said.

Otto Porter added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Wizards.

Dallas had 10 points in the first quarter – its low for any period this season – and shot 36 percent for the game, compared to 56 percent for Miami.

The fourth-year guard out of Marquette University is averaging 21.8 points, 3.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds this season, up from his career averages of 12.8 points, 2.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds. The Knicks missed their first 10 shots and needed nearly 4 minutes to score their first points of 2016, a layup for Porzingis with 8:05 left in the opening quarter.

The Raptors were looking for payback, winless in their previous six games against the Bulls, including a 104-97 defeat just six nights earlier in Chicago.

Towns shot 55.3 percent from the field for the month and made at least half his shots in 14 of 16 games.

Portis’ 16 point, 10 rebound game against the Knicks on Friday night finally cemented what Bulls fans have been calling for all season long; a spot in the rotation.

DeRozan received ample help from his teammates and was followed in scoring by point guard Kyle Lowry who had 18 points that came along with five rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals.

This was a tough one for Toronto as they did most things right to win, but enough things wrong to lose.

Victor Oladipo scored 20 points for the Magic, who had won two straight and six of eight.