Bulls beat ‘resting’ Nets, make playoffs

CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler is ready for the challenge of the postseason.

Butler scored 25 points, and the Chicago Bulls beat the depleted Brooklyn Nets 112-73 in the regular-season finale to earn an Eastern Conference playoff spot on Wednesday.

Paul Zipser added a careerhigh 21 points off the bench as Chicago took advantage of a short-handed Brooklyn lineup to secure its first playoff appearance under coach Fred Hoiberg.

The Bulls, the No. 8 seed, will open the playoffs Sunday night against No. 1 seed Boston Celtics.

“Obviously, Boston is a very good team,” Butler said. “No. 1 seed on the road, we’ll take it, we’re in there. It’s all about us playing the best basketball at the right time.”

On Tuesday, the Nets, who have the worst record in the league, said Trevor Booker, Jeremy Lin and Brook Lopez would be out due to rest, while Quincy Acy (ankle), Joe Harris (shoulder) and Sean Kilpatrick (hamstring) were out because of injuries.

On Saturday, the Nets defeated the Bulls in Brooklyn 107-106 behind Lopez’s 13 points and Lin’s 12 points.

The decision was controversial, especially with Miami, who needed the Bulls to lose in order to have a chance at the playoffs.

“I’m going to be honest as a competitor, I understand it, I understand the point of view that some of you have, some of the press has and maybe other teams, I do understand it,” Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game.