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Bulls top short-handed Spurs

Jan 30, 2014 - 7:07 AM San Antonio, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Jimmy Butler led seven Bulls in double figures with 19 points as Chicago defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 96-86, on Wednesday night.

Carlos Boozer tallied 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Joakim Noah added 10 points, 10 boards, eight assists and four blocks for Chicago, which has won five of their last seven games.

"We're taking steps in the right direction," Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich said.

Tony Parker had 20 points and six assists and Tim Duncan registered 17 points and 12 rebounds for the suddenly-sputtering Spurs, who have dropped a season- high three straight.

San Antonio announced earlier Wednesday that veteran guard Manu Ginobili will miss 3-to-4 weeks with a left hamstring strain. The Spurs are already without key contributors Kawhi Leonard (finger), Danny Green (finger) and Tiago Splitter (shoulder).

"I think with all these guys out, our consistency just isn't there. On both ends, we can't sustain for the periods of time that we need to," Duncan said.

After Parker hit a technical free throw to complete an 8-2 Spurs spurt to give them a 52-51 edge a little past the midway point of the third, the Bulls responded with a 12-3 surge.

Jimmy Butler had eight points during the swing, which was capped on his three- point play for a 63-55 Bulls cushion late in the third.

Chicago took a 68-61 advantage into the fourth, where it netted eight of the frame's first 10 points to open up a 76-63 spread.

The Bulls led by as many as 15 down the stretch.

Chicago held a 21-15 margin after a quarter of play and led 40-36 at the break.

Game Notes

The Bulls netted 16 points off 19 San Antonio turnovers ... Chicago outrebounded San Antonio, 39-31 ... D.J. Augustin and Taj Gibson had 15 points apiece for Chicago.