NBA News Wire
NBA game roundup: Butler rescues Bulls against Pacers
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
INDIANAPOLIS — The Chicago Bulls squandered a 21-point, third-quarter lead but rallied for a 92-90 victory over the Indiana Pacers when guard Jimmy Butler made a 3-pointer with 1:07 remaining Monday night in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Chicago, now 14-4 in road games, trailed 88-85 before finishing with a 7-2 burst, including five points from Butler, who scored a game-best 27. Forward Pau Gasol added 20 for the Bulls, and guard Derrick Rose scored 17.
Guard C.J. Watson had a chance to win the game for the Pacers, but he missed a 3-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer.
Reserve guard Chris Copeland led Indiana (11-21) with 17 points. Pacers guards C.J. Miles and George Hill each added 11.
Wizards 104, Rockets 103
HOUSTON — After blowing an 18-point lead, Washington held off Houston thanks to guard Bradley Beal’s 33-point night.
Rockets guard James Harden pulled Houston even at 84-84 with a fade-away jumper. The Wizards responded with a 9-0 run that included the Beal trey and a fast-break dunk by center Marcin Gortat that followed a Houston turnover.
Two free throws by Wizards guard John Wall with five seconds left gave the Wizards a four-point lead, before a Harden 3-pointer at the buzzer set the final score. Harden paced the Rockets with 33 points.
Bucks 104, Hornets 94
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Guard Brandon Knight scored 18 points and made several key plays late in the game as Milwaukee dominated overtime and beat Charlotte.
The Bucks exacted revenge after losing to the Hornets twice earlier in the season, including a 108-106 overtime loss on opening night when the Hornets rallied from a 24-point second-half deficit. Milwaukee had lost seven straight to Charlotte over the past three seasons.
This time, the Bucks raced to a 21-point first-half lead and held a 49-32 advantage at halftime but ultimately had to come from behind in the final minute of regulation after the Hornets rallied to take an 83-81 lead with 54.5 seconds left.
Magic 102, Heat 101
MIAMI — Orlando spoiled Chris Bosh’s return to the Miami lineup as the Magic beat the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Shooting guard Victor Oladipo hit a tying layup and, on Orlando’s next possession, hit one of two free throws with 6.5 seconds left to give the Magic the win.
Miami had a four-point lead with 1:38 left in the game but did not score again. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade, who had 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, missed a fade-away jumper at the buzzer to seal Orlando’s win.
Nets 107, Kings 99
NEW YORK — Center Mason Plumlee scored 22 points and had a career night at the free throw line to lead Brooklyn past Sacramento.
Plumlee made a career-high 10 free throws and went to the line a career-best 16 times. When Plumlee wasn’t getting to the line during his 34 minutes, he had three dunks and shot 6-of-7 from the floor.
Forward Joe Johnson added 16 points and six assists and guard Jarrett Jack also had 16 points for the Nets, who capitalized on a 39-20 free throw disparity and won for the fourth time in five games.
