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Jared Butler · Even on a night in which their NBA-leading, breakneck pace moved a fraction or two slower, Jared Butler kept the only thing that truly mattered running smoothly and efficiently against the Chicago Bulls: the offense. Tangibly close to dealing the Play-In Tournament-bound Bulls a “March Madness”-style upset at the NBA level, the former NCAA National Champion gets to work, lulling Chicago’s soft trap just long enough to drop a bounce pass through the middle of the defense, setting up a teammate for a clutch score. Given added responsibilities with the Washington Wizards missing a pair of their top-three scorers and their starting point guard, Butler stepped up to the task expertly, tallying eight points and four rebounds, while also flummoxing them with a career-high 13 assists, two steals, and two blocks. In outsmarting the Bulls’ defense with regularity, the third-year guard helped guide a road win on March 25, 2024. · State of Mint