Milwaukee, WI – Nate Robinson scored a game-high 24 points and Jimmy Butler added 18 as the Chicago Bulls cruised past the Milwaukee Bucks, 104-88, at Bradley Center.
Luol Deng had 12 points, 13 rebounds and five assists and Joakim Noah chipped in with 12 points and 12 boards for the Bulls, winners in five of their last six.
"We slowed them down, stopped them in transition and contested many of their shots," Butler said. "They started missing and we went down and capitalized."
Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 points and Brandon Jennings scored 15 points and dished out five assists for the Bucks, who had won five of six entering the contest.
"They played their typical game, they're a big and physical team," said Bucks coach Jim Boylan. "They pound you, they play a physical brand of basketball and it took its toll on us tonight."
Chicago led 23-19 after the first 12 minutes before exploding for 32 points in the second to take a 55-37 lead into the break. Robinson poured in 16 of his 24 points in the period on 7-of-9 shooting.
The Bulls shot 56 percent (14-for-25) from the floor and turned it over just one time while scoring 11 points off of seven Bucks' giveaways.
Milwaukee, though, outscored the Chicago, 31-24, in the third, to shave the lead to 79-68 entering the final frame.
The Bucks couldn't get closer than 10 the rest of the way.
Game Notes
Chicago scored 24 points off of 19 Milwaukee turnovers ... The Bulls outscored the Bucks, 66-40, in the paint ... Taj Gibson had 14 points and nine rebounds ... Samuel Dalembert had 14 points and 13 rebounds in the setback.
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