Butler Injured, Nuggets Overtake Bulls 115-110
DENVER (AP) -- Danilo Gallinari scored 33 points Friday night, and the Denver Nuggets rallied for a 115-110 victory against Chicago after the Bulls lost All-Star Jimmy Butler to a sprained left knee.
Emmanuel Mudiay scored 22 points and Will Barton had 18 for the Nuggets, who outscored the Bulls 42-21 in the fourth quarter. It was their ninth straight victory over Chicago in Denver.
Butler was fouled near the basket by Joffrey Lauvergne and fell awkwardly to the floor with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter. He was tended to by medical personnel before getting to his feet and gingerly making his way to the free throw line, where he made one of the two foul shots.
Butler was then helped to a rolling chair and wheeled into the locker room for further examination.
Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 30 points. Butler finished with 19 points, and Taj Gibson had 18.
Butler rested for the first time this season when he missed Wednesday's 107-102 win at Sacramento with left knee tendinitis. He suffered the injury on Monday at Utah when he banged his knee in an on-court collision.
Chicago led by two at halftime, and then outscored the Nuggets 32-18 in the third.
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