Knicks Top Bulls, 115-101
CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Carmelo Anthony added 24 points and the New York Knicks beat the Chicago Bulls, 115-107, on Wednesday night.
In the front end of a back-to-back with the Knicks, the Bulls failed to complete a sweep of their four-game homestand and dropped behind the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Nikola Mirotic scored a career-high 35 points for the Bulls, and Derrick Rose added 21.
The Knicks led by as many as 22 in the second half. Rose and Mirotic tried to start a late rally, but each was answered by Porzingis and Anthony.
Rose got the Bulls within 10 late in the fourth, but Porzingis hit a jumper. Mirotic made a 3-pointer to get it within eight at 109-101 with 3:07 left, but Anthony followed with a 3 from the corner.
The Knicks led 57-55 at the half. Porzingis scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Rose led the Bulls with 12 points.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Anthony, who missed Sunday's loss to Sacramento with a migraine, scored 10 points with five assists in the first half.
Bulls: Before the game, coach Fred Hoiberg said Butler is not having any issues with his knee and he is not over compensating. "His knee feels great and he is not. He has responded very well to the plan that was put in place and has responded very well to the treatment," Hoiberg said. Butler suffered a strained left knee that kept him out for about a month. ... Before the game, Hoiberg addressed the Iowa State men's basketball team. Hoiberg, former head coach and player for the Cyclones, left Iowa State for the Bulls after Tom Thibodeau was fired last season. Iowa State plays No. 1 seed Virginia in Midwest Regional on Friday at the United Center.
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The Bulls take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night to complete the home-and-home.
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