The Bulls secured the tiebreaker over both the Pacers and the Heat this week, but that wasn’t the only reason Jimmy Butler was grinning after his team’s game against the 76ers. Butler also racked up the fourth triple-double of his career with 19 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds.
The guard entered the game knowing that he would need to step up to lead his team. With Rajon Rondo sidelined with a sprain in his right wrist, Butler took over the point-guard duties — a role that Butler is comfortable with after often stepping into it in late-game circumstances for Chicago.
His teammates remained well aware of his impending accomplishment throughout the game. With a solid lead and only a few minutes left, Butler only needed one assist to notch his triple-double. Nikola Mirotic, who led the team with 22 points, decided to take matters into his own hands.
Via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
“I told him, ‘Jimmy, we’re going to play pick-and-pop, and I’m going to shoot that ball. It doesn’t matter if it’s a far shot or not, just give me the ball,'” Mirotic said. “It was a really deep shot, I scored it, and I was really happy for his triple-double. He deserved it.”
It was a moment of celebration for the team, as the assist stretched a lead for another victory for a 39-40 Bulls squad on the rise.
“On the last one, Niko said, ‘Yo, you need one more (assist),’” Butler said. “And I was like, ‘You don’t think I know that?’”
But Butler made it clear that he’s remaining focused on the team’s performance, not his own personal achievements.
“We don’t care how we do it,’’ Butler said. “We don’t care how many points we score, how many stops we get. Whenever you win, that’s all you want this time of year, and what we’re trying to have happen these next three games, we need them, we need a win.”
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