National Basketball Association
Chicago 100, Milwaukee 90
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, March 7, 2016
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Officials: #63 Derek Richardson, #59 Gary Zielinski, #71 Rodney Mott
Attendance: 21672

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls didn't have leading scorer Jimmy Butler, but Pau Gasol notched his second triple-double of the season to spark a 100-90 win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at the United Center.

Gasol had 12 points, 17 rebounds and 13 assists for the Bulls (32-30) to become just the fourth player in NBA history 35 years old or older to log multiple triple-doubles in a season. Gasol joined Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd, the Bucks' head coach.

"I'm happy that I'm able to play at this level at this stage of my career," Gasol said. "Without a question, I couldn't do it without my teammates. They do the right things out there and play the right way, but when you do exceptional things, you're proud of what you do."

Gasol also had five of Chicago's season-high 11 blocks and his passing paved the way to a season-high 35 assists. Defensively, the Bulls ended a string of 16 straight games allowing 100-plus points.

Butler sat out with a swollen left knee after returning this past weekend from an 11-game absence to heal a sprain in the knee. It swelled up after practice Sunday, a day after he had 24 points and 11 rebounds in the Bulls' 108-100 victory at home Saturday against the Houston Rockets.

Chicago's medical staff will try to lessen the swelling Tuesday and then it will be determined if an MRI is needed.

"We will know more (Tuesday)," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "The doctor said structurally he was OK."

E'Twaun Moore started in Butler's spot at shooting guard and finished with 16 points and seven assists, one of six Bulls to score in double figures.

Derrick Rose had 22 points and seven assists, Taj Gibson finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Dunleavy had 18 points, and Nikola Mirotic added 14 points off the bench for Chicago, which won its second game in a row.

The Bulls are hovering just above the cutoff of making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

"Nobody wants to be in this position, right at the end of the cliff," Gibson said. "But like coach (Fred Hoiberg) said, you have to get up and take a couple punches to the face and keep swinging."

Along with Butler's absence, the Bulls lost reserve guard Aaron Brooks and rookie forward Bobby Portis in the third quarter to injuries. Brooks was dealing with right patellar tendinitis, while Portis was knocked from the game when Parker's elbow hit him in the left eye.

Jabari Parker, a second-year player from Chicago, had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Milwaukee (26-38). The Bucks got double-figure scoring from Jerryd Bayless (20 points), Khris Middleton (18 points), Greg Monroe (11 points and 14 rebounds) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (12 points and 10 assists).

Bayless hit 5-of-8 from the 3-point line on a tough shooting night for the Bucks as a team.

"I'm just shooting with confidence, and when it gets to me, whether it's just making a play for myself or whoever, whatever the situation calls for I try to do it," Bayless said. "With (Antetokounmpo) at the point, I feel like we are getting better looks."

Milwaukee trailed 73-69 starting the fourth and closed within one possession on three separate occasions. The Bucks were unable to tie the game, and the Bulls regained control in the final three minutes to ensure the win.

"We have to communicate better, especially late in the game," Bucks coach Jason Kidd said. "We broke down defensively. Offensively, we're not going backward. Guys are putting the ball in the basket. We need to get stops when we need them late, especially."

NOTES: Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg on G Jimmy Butler's left knee: "There's concern. Jimmy's a warrior. He's going to try to play through anything. He developed swelling around that knee, and he's got a lot of soreness in there. It's just too early to tell how long this one will be." Hoiberg said Butler's back also is sore. ... The Bucks announced Monday that G Michael Carter-Williams will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip and will miss the rest of the season. Carter-Williams missed the previous four games with left knee patellar tendinitis and hip soreness. "Mike being young enough, he's going to bounce back stronger from this surgery," coach Jason Kidd said. ... Bucks F/C John Henson (sore lower back) missed his 17th game, but he is showing progress. Kidd said Henson recently played three-on-three and will be reassessed in Milwaukee on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Top Game Performances
 
Milwaukee   Chicago
Jerryd Bayless 20 Scoring Derrick Rose 22
Giannis Antetokounmpo 10 Assists Pau Gasol 13
Greg Monroe 14 Rebounds Pau Gasol 17
Jabari Parker 4 Free Throws Made Pau Gasol 4
Giannis Antetokounmpo 3 Steals Pau Gasol 1
Giannis Antetokounmpo 1 Blocks Pau Gasol 5
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Milwaukee 90 39.6 7-18 11-17 24 48 5 7 12
Chicago 100 50.0 10-25 12-15 35 44 11 5 18
Upcoming Games
  • Chicago will play their next game on the road against San Antonio. The Bulls have a W/L % of .531 after a win and .500 after a loss.
  • Milwaukee will play their next game at home against Miami. The Bucks have a W/L % of .385 after a win and .421 after a loss.