CHICAGO -- With a depleted line-up, Jimmy Butler and Joakim Noah came to the rescue and helped the Chicago Bulls avoid an upset loss at the hands of the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
Butler had 28 points and 12 rebounds while Noah flirted with a triple-double -- 11 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists -- and the Bulls held off the Timberwolves, 96-89, at the United Center.
At 37-22, the Bulls improved to 3-1 on their ongoing 7-game home stand. Chicago, which played without Derrick Rose (surgery) and Pau Gasol (illness), also recaptured the Central Division lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers, who fell to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, 93-86.
Mike Dunleavy pumped 21 points while Tony Snell added 12 points to help the Bulls secure the W despite shooting just 38.5 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range.
Taj Gibson left the game for good in the first quarter after an ankle injury. He finished with four points and two rebounds in nine minutes of play.
Kevin Martin had a team-high 18 points for the Timberwolves, who dropped to last place in the Western Conference with a 13-44 record.
Photo: Bulls guard Jimmy Butler splits two defenders as Chicago topped Minnesota, 96-89, at the United Center.
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