For the second time in 11 days, Jimmy Butler reminded the Chicago Bulls just how lost they’d be without him.
Thursday night was, in many ways, the 2015-16 Bulls in miniature. Even with Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol out, it shouldn't have taken overtime and a career night from Butler to beat a Philadelphia 76ers group that, despite its recent organizational steps toward respectability, barely qualifies as an NBA team.
But behind Butler's career-high 53 points, Chicago pulled out a 115-111 overtime victory in Philadelphia after trailing by as much as 24 in the first half.
Given the disparity in talent, an overtime win against these Sixers is as good as a loss for the Bulls’ resume. But for Butler’s, it’s maybe his most impressive feat yet in a season that has been full of them.
On January 3, Butler’s 40-point second half propelled Chicago to a come-from-behind road victory over the Toronto Raptors. He played 38 minutes in that game, willing the Bulls when nobody else showed up. And he did it again Thursday, playing 49 minutes, on a bad ankle, in the third game of the team's ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Sean Highkin
Jimmy Butler Single-Handedly Keeping Chicago Bulls from Total Collapse
January 14th, 2016 by Sean Highkin Leave a reply »
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