Butler's 40-point 2nd half propels Bulls to comeback win over Raptors

The Chicago Bulls mounted a comeback effort against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, led by the heroic efforts of Jimmy Butler.

Last year's Most Improved Player finished the game with 42 points - 40 of which came in the second half - as the Bulls pulled away from the Raptors late in the fourth quarter to come away with a 115-113 victory.

Butler's 40-point second half was the highest-scoring half in Bulls history, besting Michael Jordan's previous mark of 39.

Bulls legend - and Jordan's former teammate - Scottie Pippen was impressed with Butler's noteworthy output.

The Raptors now possess the unenviable distinction of allowing two of the largest second-half offensive outbursts since 1997:

Butler was not alone in aiding his team's triumphant push to the finish line. Pau Gasol contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, while Nikola Mirotic chipped in with 17 points of his own.

The Raptors, who held a lead as large as 12 points with less than six minutes remaining in the final stanza, got solid production from their usual suspects in DeMar DeRozan (24 points), Kyle Lowry (22), and Luis Scola (22).

In the end, however, no one from Toronto could stop Butler, who had to leave the game in the second quarter to receive stitches after catching a DeMarre Carroll elbow to the mouth.

It was a disappointing loss for the Raptors, who had come into the contest boasting a 4-1 record over their previous five games.

The Bulls, now 20-12, will face the 14-21 Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.