CHICAGO _ Dwyane Wade missed Monday's game against the Hornets with swelling in his left knee. With Rajon Rondo still benched by coach's decision, Jimmy Butler represented the lone Alpha.
Butler delivered.
Butler posted the second-highest scoring game of his career, finishing with 52 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, as the Bulls scored a much-needed victory over the Hornets 118-111.
Kemba Walker's 34 points and 11 rebounds led the Hornets.
In a rare appearance, rookie Denzel Valentine sank three 3-pointers off the bench before leaving late in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle.
Doug McDermott started for Wade, who sat for the third time this season and first to injury. He has rested the second of back-to-back games twice.
Wade, who turns 35 this month, has a history of knee issues. But coach Fred Hoiberg said this incident isn't considered serious enough even to warrant an MRI exam. Hoiberg is optimistic Wade will return for Wednesday's game in Cleveland against LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
Wade played all five games in a seven-day stretch, including a back-to-back set that concluded Saturday. That's when Wade's swelling developed, Hoiberg said.
For the Hornets, Cody Zeller is out after entering the NBA's concussion protocol and Marco Belinelli is out as well with a left ankle sprain.
