They didn't let the Bulls get closer than four until Butler hit a 3-pointer with 31.1 seconds left in the third quarter, and Chicago couldn't tie the score until Deng hit an 8-footer early in the fourth.
Then there are teammates like Luol Deng, stricken by an illness that prompted a spinal tap, still missing games, but desperate to pry himself out of bed and rush back to his teammates.
As a creative way of raising funds for his charity, the Luol Deng Foundation , he's organized an event where fans can come and take him on at his favourite computer games.
But Murdock, along with his wife Wendi Deng and their partners have significant hurdles ahead, as they negotiate with Beijing to secure an internet license and modify website content to conform to China's strict internet regulations.