Butler goes berserk
Jimmy Butler scores 52 pts., 12 rebounds, to lead Chicago in win over Hornets
CHICAGO— Jimmy Butler scored 52 points and outdueled Kemba Walker, carrying the Chicago Bulls to a 118-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.
Butler was a point shy of his career high, which he achieved on Jan. 14, 2016 in Philadelphia. He scored 20 points in the first half and 17 in the game’s final four minutes.
Butler also had 12 rebounds and six assists while shooting 21 of 22 from the free-throw line. He has scored at least 25 points in four straight games, and his performance Monday surpassed his previous season high of 40 points, which he tallied Wednesday against Brooklyn.
Walker boosted his AllStar candidacy with 34 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Walker, who scored 37 points against Cleveland on Saturday, tallied consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 7-9, 2016.
Bucks 98, Thunder 94
In Milwaukee, Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Malcolm Brogdon hit two free throws with 8.8 seconds left, lifting Milwaukee over Oklahoma City.
With Milwaukee leading 96-94, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook drove the lane, but Tony Snell deflected the ball off the Thunder guard’s leg and the ball went out of bounds. The referees initially signaled the ball went off Snell, but after a video review, they reversed the call and gave Milwaukee possession.
Brogdon then was fouled and made both free throws to seal the victory.
Westbrook led Oklahoma City with 30 points and six assists but made only 3 of 17 shots in the second half.
Antetokounmpo had five assists, including when he drove the lane and passed to John Henson for a layup, giving Milwaukee a 96-94 lead with 54 seconds to go.
Clippers 109, Suns 98
In Los Angeles, J.J. Redick scored 22 points to help Los Angeles beat Phoenix, opening the new year by snapping a six-game skid.
Jamal Crawford added 18 points and DeAndre Jordan had 20 rebounds for the Clippers, who remain without Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. Griffin has missed nine games while recovering from right knee surgery, while Paul has missed six with a sore left hamstring.
Los Angeles improved to 3-9 without both of them in the lineup since Paul was acquired before the 2011-12 season.
T.J. Warren led the Suns with 24 points and former Clipper Eric Bledsoe added 22. (AP)