Jimmy Butler explodes anew, leads Chicago Bulls past Milwaukee Bucks

A game after breaking an all-time great’s record, Jimmy Butler was at it again scoring 32 points against the Milwaukee Bucks to lead the Chicago Bulls to a high-scoring 117-106 win on Tuesday (Wednesday in Australia).

Butler shot well for the second straight game, making 11-of-21 shots from the field two days after he scored 42 points against the Toronto Raptors. The four-year guard scored 40 points in the second half against the Canadian squad and broke former Bulls superstar Michael Jordan’s franchise scoring record in a single half.

Butler also had 10 assists on this night setting up teammates Pau Gasol, who had a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds plus 5 assists and 3 blocked shots, and Derrick Rose, who scored 16 points and dished out 6 assists.

Starting forwards Nikola Mirotic and Taj Gibson added 14 and 11 points, respectively for the Bulls, which has yet to lose a game in 2016.

The Bulls raced to a 10-0 start and had a 36-28 lead after the first quarter. The Bucks cut it down to three midway through the second quarter but the Bulls were in control at halftime, 59-52.

The Bucks threatened in the third and fourth quarters but the Bulls didn’t collapse as the trio of Butler, Gasol and Rose scored crucial baskets to thwarted the Bucks’ comeback attempts.

All Bucks’ starters scored in double-figures led by Khris Middleton’s 26 points. Both Michael Carter-Williams, who had 20 points and 12 assists, and Greg Monroe, who had 13 points and 12 rebounds, finished with double-doubles for the night.

Chicago extended their winning streak to five games with a Thursday game at home versus the Boston Celtics. Meanwhile, Milwaukee have lost back-to-back games and will host the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.