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Bulls Game No. 27: Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler take over in 4th vs. Toronto

By Michael Whitlow

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120. 81. 129. 24. Final

In a record-setting fourth quarter for the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, the backcourt of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler made their case in the whole “best backcourt in the NBA” debate against the Toronto Raptors.

Not only did the Bulls set a franchise-record with a 49-point(!) fourth quarter on Monday night, the backcourt of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler showed that — when healthy — there shouldn’t be a  “best backcourt in the NBA” discussion without Rose and Butler.

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Rose played 31 minutes in his return to action from an illness and scored 29 points, including 15(!) in the huge fourth quarter for the Bulls.

Butler played his usual, machine-like total of 44 minutes and dropped his most impressive stat line of the season: 27 points (11 in the fourth), 11 rebounds, five blocks and four assists.

"“We know that we can always count on him and go to him, and that’s just the kind of guy he is. He wants that pressure on him. He produced, and we’re going to keep going back to him and he’s going to do the same thing every night.”-Jimmy Butler on Derrick Rose, CSNChicago.com"

The NBA record for points in a single quarter (50) was almost eclipsed on Monday by the Bulls, who actually trailed throughout most of the contest and trailed 83-80 after three quarters.

How hot were the Bulls in that fourth quarter?

The Bulls and Raptors were tied at 95 with seven minutes left in the game when Derrick Rose returned for the final stretch. In that span, the Bulls scored 34(!) points on 9-of-9(!) shooting from the field and drained 13 of their 16 free throw attempts.

Thoughts + what’s next for the Bulls

So, Monday night was fun.

Not only did Bulls fans get “vintage Derrick Rose”, but Jimmy Butler did everything, and I mean everything (27 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks).

Despite an outstanding performance from Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry (34 points on 12-of-22 shooting), Rose completely took over down the stretch and there was simply nothing the Raptors could do.

Monday not only saw the Bulls’ two big backcourt stars dominate, the bench played a vital role in the Bulls going 2-0 on the season against Toronto.

Taj Gibson poured in 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds, Aaron Brooks scored 17 points and the emerging Nikola Mirotic scored 12 points after his 26-point outburst against Memphis on Friday night.

Some more game notes:

  • Three players in the NBA have logged a 20-point, 10-rebound, five-block game this season.
  • The Bulls’ on Monday night were simply … en fuego.
    • 40-for-74 (54.1%) from the field, 6-of-12 (50%) from long range and 43-of-47 (91.5%) from the line(!)
  • Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich did leave the game on Monday with a strained left hamstring. There’s been no word on whether on not Hinrich will play on Tuesday.

The Bulls (18-9) will try and take down another Eastern Conference club in front of them in the standings on Tuesday night.

In the second game of a back-to-back, the Bulls head to the Nation’s Capital to take on the Washington Wizards (19-7) for the first time since last year’s playoff series, which was won by the Wizards in five games.

Tip-off from the Verizon Center is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT.

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Next: Bulls Game No. 26: Nikola Mirotic hosted a coming-out party in Memphis

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