SALT LAKE CITY_The Chicago Bulls' good vibes continued with an 85-77 victory over the Utah Jazz, their second straight to open this six-game trip. It's the first time the Bulls have won the first two games of the Circus Trip since November 1996.
Double-doubles from Jimmy Butler and Robin Lopez led the Bulls in an ugly affair in which they tied franchise records with two first-half assists and eight overall and shot 36.7 percent.
In one second-quarter stretch, they missed 22 of 23 shots. But solid defense spearheaded by Butler's strangulation of Gordon Hayward (eight points, 3-for-15 shooting) and clutch late jumpers from Wade and Butler, who scored 20 points, overcame.
Rajon Rondo missed his second game with his sprained left ankle.
The Bulls already were without Doug McDermott and Michael Carter-Williams. Coach Fred Hoiberg updated that McDermott is almost certain to miss the West Coast portion of this six-game trip because he's still experiencing concussion-like symptoms and hasn't entered the league's protocol to be cleared. That would mean through Tuesday's game in Denver at least.
But the Jazz, too, weree shorthanded. Both Derrick Favors (bone bruise in knee) and George Hill (sprained thumb) are out.
