Bulls Game No. 30: Jimmy Butler spoils Anthony Davis’ homecoming

In his NBA game at the United Center, New Orleans Pelicans star — and Chicago-born — Anthony Davis didn’t disappoint with a 29-point, 11-rebound performance, but he was outdone by another up-and-coming star, who is continuing to generate buzz around the league.

In the previous five games — all Bulls victories — Jimmy Butler had logged two 30-point games in wins over New York and Memphis.

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On Saturday night in Chicago, against the league’s most-talked about player right now, Jimmy Butler put on yet another outstanding 30-point performance in a 107-100 Bulls win.

Butler scored 33 points on an efficient 12-for-18 shooting performance and grabbed five rebounds in the sixth straight win for the Bulls (21-9).

The victory was also the ninth in the last 10 games for the Bulls, who leave Chicago just once in their next four games.

"“I feel like we got a lot of easy baskets as a team. “We rebounded the ball well and we got out into the open court and we got a lot of layups. When we’re playing like that, I think we’re really, really hard to beat.”-Jimmy Butler on the 107-100 win for the Bulls, ESPN.com"

Along with Butler’s huge night at the office, fans inside the United Center were treated to a couple moments between Chicago’s own Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis.

Next: Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis: The first (of hopefully many) chapters

Rose got Davis early with a quick left-to-right crossover that resulted in a floater dropping for Rose in the game’s opening possessions.

Davis responded in a emphatic way with a block on another floater attempt from Rose to even up their little “game inside the game”.

Rose got the overall win and scored 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting in his first action against “The Brow” in his career.

Davis was fantastic in 41 minutes of action, scoring 29 points on 13-of-24 shooting, grabbing 11 rebounds and blocking six — count ’em — six shots, in his return to the Windy City.

Thoughts + what’s next for the Bulls

If Jimmy Butler isn’t in New York for this year’s All-Star Game and the leading candidate for the NBA Most Improved Player Award, then I really question who is eligible to vote for those honors.

Butler has answered his own wake-up call this season in the first 30 games. He “bet on himself” and continues to rack in the chips.

After missing the first two games of the season with that sprained thumb, Butler hasn’t missed a game and is averaging almost 22 points per contest (21.6).

Along with Butler’s hot start, the Bulls are in attack mode heading into the new year.

The offense, the versatility and the good health — minus Kirk Hinrich‘s recent hamstring strain — are all on display at the moment and the Bulls continue to look like the best team in the Eastern Conference.

(Side note: How good have things been? Tonight in the first half, Tom Thibodeau played Nikola Mirotic at small forward. No, seriously! I saw it!)

The Bulls move on to their fifth division game of the young season against the Indiana Pacers (11-20) in Indianapolis on Monday night.

Tip-off from Bankers Life Fieldhouse is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT.

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Next: Bulls Game No. 29: Pau Gasol leads Bulls over Kobe-less Lakers on Christmas