Butler's Tip-In Gives Bulls 102-100 OT Win Over Pacers
CHICAGO (AP) — Jimmy Butler tipped in a basket with 1.2 seconds left in overtime and the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers, 102-100, on Wednesday night despite playing without Derrick Rose.
Butler scored 28 points and Aaron Brooks had 29 points to help Chicago win its third in four games. Chicago got 52 points from its bench and held Indiana to 38.1 percent shooting from the field. Pau Gasol had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Rose was scratched an hour before the game with right hamstring tendinitis.
Butler scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined.
Brooks' floater with 58.7 seconds left gave Chicago a 100-95 advantage. Solomon Hill made two free throws, and Brooks' turnover set up Monta Ellis' tying 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left.
On the final play, Butler tipped in Gasol's lob from atop the key. Butler then defended Paul George on a lob to preserve the win.
George Hill led Indiana with 20 points.
George's floater with 59.9 seconds left in regulation put Indiana in front 89-84. Butler then hit two free throws and Chicago got the ball back after George Hill's turnover. Butler's 3-pointer bounced in with 34.9 seconds left to even the game at 89.
Ellis made a layup with 31.3 seconds left, but Butler tied it with 25 seconds to go. Ellis' 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short.
Rose had played in 27 of Chicago's first 29 games, averaging 14.4 points. The only two games he missed were in November because of a sprained left ankle. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg didn't mention any health issues around the oft-injured guard during his pre-game media session.
Rose's absence wasn't well-timed. He had scored at least 20 points in each of his last two games and was showing the aggressiveness the Bulls want.
Kirk Hinrich started in place of Rose and scored three points.
The Pacers had their own injury issues. C.J. Miles (sore lower back) and Jordan Hill (dental work) both sat, forcing Indiana to test its frontcourt depth. Lavoy Allen started and scored 10 points with 12 rebounds in 38 minutes. Rookie Myles Turner played 22 minutes and scored eight points in his return after missing 22 games because of a broken left thumb.
Then with 2:44 left in the third, Ian Mahinmi limped off the court favoring his left knee and didn't return.
TIP-INS
Pacers: Miles was scratched about an hour before tipoff and missed his second straight game. ... For the fourth time, the Pacers wore their "Hickory" alternate uniforms, inspired by the Indiana high school team from the movie "Hoosiers." ... George had 19 points.
Bulls: Doug McDermott (right knee) was questionable but played 21 minutes and scored five points. ... Hoiberg said little-used forward Cristiano Felicio will be assigned to the D-League.
UP NEXT
Pacers host Milwaukee on Thursday night.
Bulls host New York on Friday night.
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