Game Thread: New York Knicks vs Chicago Bulls 7:30pm 3/240/2016

Kristaps Porzingis just missed doing something that a New York Knicks rookie hasn't accomplished since Patrick Ewing, but he may have another chance right away if the Chicago Bulls don't come up with a better game plan to slow him down.

The Knicks can sweep a home-and-home series and further damage the Bulls' playoff hopes on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Chicago (36-34) had a three-game win streak snapped with Wednesday's 115-107 loss to New York that capped a four-game homestand. Porzingis was the catalyst, matching his season high with 29 points.

"He led us out there tonight, we followed his lead," teammate Carmelo Anthony said.

Porzingis scored 17 first-half points on 7-of-9 shooting and is averaging 20.7 in his last three games. He was one point short of becoming the first Knicks rookie since Ewing to put up 30 points and 10 rebounds.

"I looked up at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter and saw how many (points) I had, but I didn't know about the record," Porzingis said. "I don't want to force up a shot just to break a record."

Chicago fell into ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one game behind Indiana and Detroit. The Bulls were outrebounded 53-34 with no player having more than six.

"They outrebounded us by 19," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "They just out-horsed us, out-toughed us all night long."

Star Jimmy Butler, held to seven points on 3-of-11 shooting, saw things differently. He is averaging 13.8 points on 36.4 percent shooting in six games since missing 14 of 15 games with a knee injury.

"He's supposed to say it's a team thing," Butler said. "I don't think right now, I know this is a team game, but if one of your so-called best players is not doing what their supposed to do, that's what is going to happen.

"You've seen the way I've been playing lately. It's sad. My teammates won't say it, my coaches won't say it."

Chicago insists that Butler is not having any issues with his knee now.

The Bulls wasted Nikola Mirotic's career-high nine 3-pointers and 35 points. Derrick Rose added 21 as Chicago trailed by as many as 22 points in the second half.

New York (29-43) ended a three-game slide as Anthony returned with 24 points after missing a game with a migraine. The Knicks now seek to win for the third time in 12 home games.

"It feels good to get this one on the back-to-back, home-and-home against the same team," Anthony said. "If you can win the first one, then you can go home and have that momentum in your favor."

Chicago has dropped nine of 10 on the road and plays eight of its final 12 there.

"I told them they've got two choices right now," Hoiberg said. "One's to tuck your tail between your legs and walk out of there with your head down or toughen up, suck it up and go find a way to get a win tomorrow and finish this thing out the right way."

(nba.com)

Thanks for the game thread Rady.

Bulls will be desparate to avenge yesterday's loss. Reminds me of ATL/WIZ playing home and away games where the road team won. I see much tougher Bulls team tonight but they're missing Pau.

They're starting that Brazilian big in place of Pau, we killed them on the boards last game we should do that this game also with Rolo and KP.

Rose looked like Calderon defending that Calderon layup. Not sure how JC got to the rim that far away from the basket without someone blocking his shot.

Sasha is an interesting case, if the Knicks aren't going to re-sign him why is he starting? Gotta feeling htr10 is right AA is the one taking the plane out of town which should make Mafra happy.

Brooks makes a last second floater from 12ft and the Knicks lead 31-27 1st qtr.

Chicago hasn't made a FG yet in the 2nd 3 mins in.

Knicks have cooled off only scoring 5 pts for a 36-33 lead.

Both teams cooled off after a better shooting start. Second unit still looking for a scorer but Jose to the rescue with a three. bTW DRose can still throw it down

Dunleavy makes the Bulls 1st 3 now 1-11.

Still can't close quarters well

#KP6 fo 3!!!

He's on Fire #KP6

8 point lead at the half I'll take it!!!

NYK looked determine to play spoilers... At least try to get to 34 wins.

Bulls halftime guys clowning DRose first dunk of the year on chief

Porzingis continues to roll with 12 points and 7 boards in the first half. The best part? They ask him at the halftime interview what he liked about how they played in the first half and he instead says 'no, I'm going to tell you about what I didn't like and what we can do better'.

Knicks lead 53-45 at the half. KP and Melo leading the scoring with 12 apiece. Bulls shooting 40% and 1/12 from 3 so I don't know what KP meant when he told Trautwig they had to play better D the 2nd half.

Hazzard will never convince me about the triangle. Though PJ is going to the grave trying to win a championship with it again.

AA was the star of that 3rd qtr with 9 pts and nailing a buzzer beating 15fter for an 80-65 3rd qtr lead.

tiger0330 said:

AA was the star of that 3rd qtr with 9 pts and nailing a buzzer beating 15fter for an 80-65 3rd qtr lead.

Click to expand...

Afflalo, even when he was a starter, was the master of his good games being based around having one big quarter and then making you forget he is even playing the rest of the game.