Jimmy Butler Stuffs James Harden Mercilessly at the 3-Point Line

Jimmy Butler continued his transformation from defensive role player to all-around nightmare Monday night, dropping 22 points and a bushel of humiliation on the Houston Rockets.

While his alley-oop dunk over a slumbering Rockets defense continues to reverberate through time and space, Butler's most disrespectful play of the game was the devouring of a James Harden three-point attempt.

Trying to answer a Pau Gasol bucket at the end of the first quarter, Harden burned down the court looking to create a shot. Butler, doing what he does, followed, anticipated and enveloped the Rockets shooting guard as he attempted to force up a last-second triple.

Harden's shot was dead before arrival, running into Butler's extended left hand and tumbling unceremoniously to the floor. Stranded somewhere between flopping and resignation, Harden followed the ball to the ground and took a seat.

The Chicago Bulls went on to handle Houston 114-105, with Butler holding Harden to 20 points on 22 field-goal attempts.

After the game, Chicago's do-it-all small forward brushed off his personal performance and gave the win to the team.

"I don't know," Butler told The Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "We just got a really good team. Everyone showed up tonight."

Averaging 40 minutes and 21.9 points per game on the season, Butler may or may not be sliding his way into MVP talk. His game is dominant, but he might not register the gaudy scoring numbers usually demanded for the league-wide distinction.

In any case, the 25-year-old has earned the honor as an irreplaceable cog in a team growing into championship contention.

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