Butler takes over; Bulls hang on vs. Knicks
Jimmy Butler scored a career-high 35 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the New York Knicks 103-97 on Thursday night.
Butler was 11-of-21 from the floor with four 3-pointers, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals, further staking a claim to an All-Star spot this season.
Still, the Bulls had trouble shaking a short-handed New York team that has lost three straight and 13 of 14. The Knicks were led by Tim Hardaway Jr., who had 23 points and five 3-pointers.
Pelicans 99 Rockets 90
Anthony Davis had 30 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Pelicans to a 99-90 victory over the Rockets.
The Pelicans trailed by one early in the fourth quarter before using a 7-0 run to take a 79-73 lead and they didn't trail again. Ryan Anderson scored the last five points on that spurt to help New Orleans snap a six-game skid in Houston.
James Harden scored 21 and Dwight Howard had 17 points with 13 rebounds for the Rockets, who lost for just the second time in nine games.