CHICAGO — What was billed as a matchup of MVP candidates never materialized.
Chicago wing Jimmy Butler was a game-time decision to play, battling an illness that forced him out of morning shootaround. He came into Monday’s game averaging more points (38.0) per game than Russell Westbrook (36.0) in January.
But Butler didn’t look right from the onset. Westbrook blew by Butler for an easy layup in the second quarter. By halftime, Westbrook was outscoring Butler 13 to 1 en route to a 109-94 Thunder victory.
Much of it was the illness. Much of it was Andre Roberson.