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Wednesday, January 4, 2017
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CHICAGO – Following a year of inconsistency and disappointment, the Chicago Bulls entered 2017 with plenty of resolutions.
There’s one thing, however, they are hoping remains the same – the production of Jimmy Butler.
Butler scored 52 points and out-dueled Kemba Walker, carrying Chicago in a 118-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
Butler was a point shy of his career high, which he got Jan. 14, 2016 at Philadelphia. He scored 20 points in the first half and 17 in the game’s final four minutes.
”It’s an understatement to say he was phenomenal. He did it in any which way,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. ”He just took what the defense gave him and obviously made huge plays down the stretch.”
Butler also had 12 rebounds and six assists while shooting 21 of 22 from the free-throw line. He has scored at least 25 points in four straight games, and his performance Monday surpassed his previous season high of 40 points, which he notched Wednesday against Brooklyn.
”I was just playing basketball,” Butler said. ”I didn’t even know how many points I had. I just had a groove. Coach kept drawing up the same play.”
Walker went blow-for-blow with Butler for much of the game, boosting his All-Star candidacy with 34 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Walker, who scored 37 points against Cleveland on Saturday, notched consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 7-9, 2016. (AP)
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