The Bulls really needed a win Monday night, for more reasons than just the standings.
Instead, Chicago lost at home 105-102 to the Nets, a defeat that comes after a weekend filled with controversy following comments by All-Star guard Jimmy Butler.
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Butler told reporters following Saturday's loss to the Knicks that the team needed to be "coached harder" by first-year NBA coach Fred Hoiberg.
Asked about those comments during Monday's shootaround, Butler admitted he made them in the heat of the moment, but didn't shy away from them. The player and the coach had an hourlong meeting Sunday.
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"He said that he does have to hold everybody accountable. I have to help him with that," Butler said via the Chicago Tribune. "I took the easy way out with my frustration. But I was never calling out my coach. I think he's a hell of a coach. I think he's done great through these 25 games."
A few hours later, the Bulls dropped a game to a Nets team that came in with just seven wins in its first 27 games. Butler finished with 24 points on 11-for-20 shooting. Things don't get any easier Friday, when the Bulls travel to Oklahoma City to take on Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the Thunder.
Tweet of the Night
Tim Duncan has known nothing but success in the NBA.
Since Tim Duncan's rookie season (1997-98) @spurs have 44 different win streaks of 6+ games They have ONE 6-game losing streak in that span
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 22, 2015Studs of the Night
James Harden had a big night with 36 points in a 102-95 win over the Hornets, but it was Washington's combination of John Wall and Marcin Gortat that stood out Monday night. Wall had a career-high 19 assists, with many of them going to Gortat, who had 27 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks as the Wizards won 113-99 over the Kings.
Duds of the Night
The Hornets were bad from the 3-point line on Monday, but that didn't stop them from shooting 41 of them in the loss to the Rockets. They only made 12 of those attempts.
Paul George was bad from all over, shooting 1 for 14 in the Pacers' 106-92 loss to the Spurs.
Looking ahead:
Pistons (16-12) at Heat (16-10) 7 p.m. ET: The Heat come into Tuesday's game ranked second in the Eastern Conference despite having just a two-game edge on the Pistons, who are currently in seventh place. In the tight Eastern Conference, this is a game that could matter when all is said and done.