All-Star player Jimmy Butler poured in a season-high 52 points as the Chicago Bulls kicked off 2017 on a bright note with a 118-11 triumph over the visiting Charlotte Hornets at the United Center on Monday evening.

According to Yahoo Sports, with an upcoming battle with the reigning NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the Jerry Reinsdorf-owned basketball club snapped its two-game losing skid to record the team's fourth win in their last 12 games.

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The turnaround was down to the league's 2015 Most Improved Player, whose 52 markers was just one shy of his career-high. Butler added 12 boards and six assists, lifting his team with starting guard Dwyane Wade unable to play due to a swollen knee and veteran point guard Rajon Rondo benched by head coach Fred Hoiberg.

"I think it's an understatement to say Jimmy was phenomenal tonight," Hoiberg said of Butler, who went on a 15-24 shooting from the field and made 21 of his 22 free throws during the game. "He did it every which way."

Butler, 27, scored 17 points in the final period when the host team out-gunned the Hornets offensively with a 36-26 run.

"I was just playing basketball," Butler said. "I just had a groove."

With the victory, the Bulls improve to a better 17-18 win-loss record having tied with the Indiana Pacers for the seventh and eighth spot in the 15-team Eastern Conference's team standing. It was the 11^th win for the Bulls basketball team in 18 matches played at the United Center this season.

The Bulls also have three other players who finished the match in double-figures. Power forward Nikola Mirotic had 12 points, forward Doug McDermott added 11 markers, and point guard Michael Carter-Williams capped the game with 10 points. 

TagsChicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, NBA, Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade