Chicago Bulls: "Bench Mob" Keys Victory, Tom Thibodeau's Record Run

The Chicago Bulls rested their starters for a large portion of their final regular-season game, and the reserves keyed a comeback to secure the Bulls' 62nd win of the year.

The victory earned the Bulls at least a tie for the NBA's best record. It also tied Tom Thibodeau with Paul Westphal for most regular-season wins by a rookie head coach. 

Note: The Phoenix Suns just beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-103. The Chicago Bulls now has sole possession of the NBA's best record and will have the home court advantage throughout the playoffs. 

I think it's safe to say the concerns about whether Thibodeau could be a head coach have been put to bed. 

MVP frontrunner Derrick Rose needed 14 points to become the first Bull since Michael Jordan to average 25 points for the season. He scored 15.

Rose also only had one assist and four rebounds; it wasn't a great game for him, but he played limited minutes. He also didn't go as hard or as often to the rim as usual, which made sense considering the playoffs are coming up.  

The story of the game, though, was Chicago's "Bench Mob," as they've come to call themselves. They were the ones who brought the team back to win it (along with some help from Rose). 

Down 10 in the third quarter, Rose went on an 8-0 run and Kyle Korver added a jumper to tie the game as the period drew to a close.

But the Nets built another lead. With slightly more than eight minutes left, Johan Petro hit a jumper to put New Jersey ahead by six. At that time Thibodeau pulled all the starters and put his reserves in.

Then, Kyle Korver did his best Derrick Rose impersonation.

At 7:54 he hit an 18-foot jumper. Lead down to four. 

At 7:52 he made a technical free throw. Lead down to three.  

Then Petro split a pair free throws and Graham hit a layup. Lead at six.

At 5:46, Watson hit a 26-foot three, Korver on the assist. Lead down to three. 

Korver hit a 25-foot three. Game tied.

Rasual Butler hit a 16-foot jumper. Bulls up by two.

Petro made a jumper. Game tied.

Korver made a 19-foot jumper, Bulls up two. 

Farmar hit a pair of free throws. Game tied.

Gibson split a pair of free throws.

Lopez hit a jumper. Nets up one with 1:01 on the clock.

Butler hit another three, Korver on the assist. The Bulls stayed ahead for the remainder of the game. 

Fittingly, the last points were a pair of Korver free throws. In all, Korver scored or assisted on 16 of the Bulls' final 22 points.

Looks like he's been learning something from Derrick Rose.

The bench has been such a part of the Bulls' success story, and it was nice to see them not only close out the game but be the key to winning it. It was good to see Rasual Butler playing some significant time, too.

He was playing those minutes because of the injury to Ronnie Brewer (who said he will play in the playoffs as long as his thumb is "attached"),  but the way he played was promising.

Butler was four of five from the field and two of three from the arc to score 10 points. He also played solid defense. 

Next up for the Bulls is the playoffs! Chicago will face off against the Indiana Pacers on Saturday at noon CST. 

Congratulations to the Chicago Bulls on a spectacular regular season that went far beyond what anyone projected.