Butler Tops Jordan's Bulls Record With 40 Points In Half
TORONTO (AP) — Jimmy Butler broke Michael Jordan's team record for points in a half, scoring 40 of his 42 after the break to lead the Chicago Bulls over the Toronto Raptors, 115-113, on Sunday.
Jordan had 39, also in the second half, in a game against Milwaukee in 1988. Butler shot 14 of 19 in the final two quarters after a 1-for-4 start in the Bulls' fourth straight win.
Pau Gasol had his 17th double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds as Chicago beat Toronto for the second time in a week and a seventh consecutive time overall.
DeMar DeRozan led the way for the Raptors with 24 points and Kyle Lowry had his fifth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 assists, while Luis Scola also had 22 points for Toronto.
The Raptors haven't beaten the Bulls since Dec. 31st, 2013.
Trailing 60-48 at halftime, Butler took over in the third to get Chicago within six. He scored 21 points, the most points the Raptors have given up to a player in one quarter all season.
Toronto took a lead early in the second quarter and held it until E'Twaun Moore tied the score at 109 with 58 seconds left.
Lowry made a twisting, turning jumper to put Toronto back in front, but Butler answered with a 3-pointer from the corner to give Chicago the lead for the first time since there was 9:13 remaining in the second quarter.
Fresh off beating the New York Knicks by a season-high 27 points on New Year's Day, Chicago connected on 57.9 percent of their shots from the floor in the first quarter, and went 4 for 4 from beyond the arc, to keep pace with the Raptors, who got 10 points from DeRozan to keep the score tied at 26 after the opening 12 minutes.
The Raptors responded in the second quarter, shooting 52.3 percent from the floor to open up a 60-48 lead at the half. Cory Joseph had nine points off the bench during the quarter.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Derrick Rose sat out his third straight game with a hamstring injury in his right knee, although coach Fred Hoiberg said, "it is definitely getting better." Rose will undergo an MRI on Monday on the knee, the same knee he has previously had two surgeries on. ... Chicago has a 6-1 record against the top three teams in each conference, with its lone loss coming at Golden State in November. ... The Bulls are now 17-3 when outrebounding their opponent. ... Chicago has scored 100-plus points in seven straight games. ... Butler's streak of 40 games with at least one steal is the longest active streak in the NBA, and the longest of Butler's career.
Raptors: The Raptors embark on a five-game road trip, which includes an NBA Global Game in London against the Orlando Magic on Jan. 14.
UP NEXT
Bulls: host Milwaukee on Tuesday night.
Raptors: visit Cleveland on Monday night.
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