CHICAGO — Jimmy Butler scored 52 points and outdueled Kemba Walker, carrying the Chicago Bulls in a 118-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Butler was a point shy of his career high, which he got Jan. 14, 2016 at Philadelphia. He scored 20 points in the first half and 17 in the game’s final four minutes.

Butler also had 12 rebounds and six assists while shooting 21 of 22 from the free-throw line. He has scored at least 25 points in four straight games, and his performance Monday surpassed his previous season high of 40 points, which he tallied Wednesday against Brooklyn.

Walker boosted his All-Star candidacy with 34 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Walker, who scored 37 points against Cleveland on Saturday, tallied consecutive 30-point games for the first time since March 7-9, 2016.

CAVALIERS 90, PELICANS 82: LeBron James scored 26 points and short-handed Cleveland rallied for a win over New Orleans in Cleveland.

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving missed his second straight game because of tightness in his right hamstring. Cleveland dressed only 10 players because of a rash of recent injuries.

After Buddy Hield hit two free throws to pull the Pelicans to 84-82 with 2:56 remaining, James scored six straight points and blocked a shot over a 1:47 stretch to seal the win.

BUCKS 98, THUNDER 94: Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Malcolm Brogdon hit two free throws with eight seconds left, lifting host Milwaukee over Oklahoma City.

With Milwaukee leading 96-94, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook drove the lane, but Tony Snell deflected the ball off the Thunder guard’s leg and the ball went out of bounds. The referees initially signaled the ball went off Snell, but after a video review, they reversed the call and gave Milwaukee possession.

MAGIC 115, KNICKS 103: Jodie Meeks scored a season-high 23 points, Serge Ibaka and Aaron Gordon each had 22 and Orlando rolled to a victory over New York, which lost its fifth straight game, in New York.

Nikola Vucevic had 14 points and 13 rebounds and fellow reserve Elfrid Payton added 13 points and 14 assists for the Magic, who were routed in their previous two games but totally turned things around against a Knicks team that played without Kristaps Porzingis or much defensive intensity.

JAZZ 101, NETS 89: Gordon Hayward scored 30 points and Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 16 rebounds, helping Utah pull away to beat Brooklyn in New York.

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