Having established a boom-or-bust result based on their first-quarter play — they opened the season winning the five games during which they led after 12 minutes of play and losing the four in which they trailed — the Bulls are making fast starts a point of emphasis.

“It is something we talk about: You win the first quarter you win the game,” coach Fred Hoiberg said before the Bulls defeated the Wizards 106-95 Saturday night at the United Center.

“It's a time you can go out and set the tone and set the tempo the way you need it for that particular night. When we've come out and performed well in the first quarter we've generally played well for the entire 48 minutes.”

Naturally, the Bulls found themselves trailing a Wizards team — winless on the road this season and without its starting backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal — by 12 points late in the first quarter.

But perhaps because they were playing the hapless Wizards or because of an early substitution of Isaiah Canaan for a struggling Rajon Rondo, the Bulls went on a 19-6 run to close out the first to take a 28-27 lead and eventually put the clamps down for an impressive victory.

It was Jimmy Butler who sparked the Bulls offense in the first quarter with 13 points — including 7-for-7 at the free-throw line — and the veteran guard came on even stronger in the second half to finish with a game-high 37 points while adding nine assists and eight rebounds.

“Jimmy was unbelievable,” Hoiberg said. “It's a good win. I know it was a little ugly at times out there but we'll take it.”

Said Butler: “If you start off the way you're supposed to play then you'll be fine. We don't want to dig ourselves a hole. If we do, we can still outscore the opposing team the rest of the game.”

Nikola Mirotic added 17 points and Dwyane Wade 14 as the Bulls improved to 6-4 on the season — 4-1 at home. Markieff Morris led the Wizards (2-7) with 24 points.

Bulls forward Doug McDermott left the game early in the fourth quarter when he landed face-first on the court after a flagrant foul from Morris. McDermott underwent the NBA's concussion protocol and did not return.

Hoiberg said the key to getting off on the right foot starts at the defensive end.

“Too many times when we've lost games and we've given up big first quarters we allowed the other team to get into a rhythm (and) … to get confidence,” Hoiberg said. “It's important to get off to a good start moving the ball offensively but defensively if you can set the tone with your physicality. Making sure you get back on defense, taking care of the ball is huge to set your defense and get back in transitions. If you can get off to a good start defensively that helps your mindset.”

The Bulls' busy schedule — which doesn't get much easier with a season-long six-game trip looming — hasn't helped in developing consistency to come out strong at the opening tip.

“We haven't had a lot of practice time — it has been a lot of games in a short amount of time,” Hoiberg said. “I thought early on we did a pretty good job of building habits with our guys. There are so many new faces with eight new guys and a lot of young players so we're continuing to evolve as a group. You just have to continue to learn in the limited amount of time you have.”

ckuc@chicagotribune.com