Mirotic & Gasol Lead Bulls Past Hornets, 98-86.

Nikola Mirotic has come on like gangbusters. He scored 28 points, 14 in the fourth quarter to help the  Chicago Bulls clinch a playoff spot in  the Eastern Conference. Pau Gasol had 27 points and 12 rebounds, a typical game for him.  The Bulls moved into a tie with Toronto for the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference.

Jimmy Butler returned to action and tallied 19 points in just under 40 minutes of play. He also bagged 9 boards. Butler last played on March 1st and missed 11 games. He was a little rusty and shot 6-20 from the floor, but he's been out for almost a month. This week both Taj Gibson and Butler have returned to the active roster which can only bolster the team's playoff hopes. Derrick Rose is likely at least a week away from trying to come back from his latest knee injury.

Chicago has had injuries to Mike Dunleavy, Derrick Rose, Butler, Gibson, Noah, and Kirk Hinrick this season. Reserves such as Mirotic, Tony Snell, and Aaron Brooks have played key roles in keeping the Bulls afloat.

Chicago pulled ahead of the Hornets in the second half on the way to a 98-86 win. Charlotte's Kemba Walker had 29 points for the Hornets, who only shot 35 percent from the field. The Bulls had a decent shooting night, hitting 45% from the floor.

Joakim Noah, who has played well of late for Chicago, was held out of the game due to general soreness.

Gasol moved to center and Taj Gibson started at forward.

Chicago faces Toronto on the road on Wednesday in a battle for playoff seeding.

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Mirotic & Noah Lead Bulls in Win Over Raptors, 108-92

Nikola Mirotic is for real. The 6' 10" F is having a great month of March.

He scored 29 points to lead Chicago to a win over the Toronto Raptors, 108-92.  Mirotic, the NBA rookie from Real Madrid, is averaging 20.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in March and he tied his career high, which he set earlier this month vs. the LA Clippers.

Joakim Noah also had quite a game. He was two points shy of a triple-double, in scoring 8, making a career-high 14 assists, and hauling in 10 rebounds.  When Noah is playing at this level, he is capable of carrying the team.  The Bulls also got a solid game from F Mike Dunleavy who scored 21 points. He appears to be finding his rhythm which is a good sign for the Bulls.

The win puts he Bulls a half game better than Toronto in the quest for the third seed in the Eastern Conference.  The Bulls and Raptors meet each other again shortly.

This game was also notable with the return of key reserve F Taj Gibson.  Gibson, who missed 10 games due to a left ankle sprain, returned to the court to an ovation with 4:03 left in the first quarter. He showed his ankle was good when he dunked on a nice pass from Pau Gasol.  Gibson scored 6 points in 10+ minutes.

Gasol was one of five Bulls in double figures with 11 points and 9 boards.

Toronto played without Kyle Lowry, the all-star guard who was nursing a sore back. DeMar DeRozan had 27 points for the Raptors.

Chicago shot 53% from the field and connected on 15-17 free-throw attempts. Chicago played like it wanted this game. The team looked focused and passed the ball well, generating 32 assists.

Slowly, it seems, the Bulls are heading toward a full playing squad. Jimmy Butler is expected to re-join the team on Saturday.  Derrick Rose could be a few weeks away from returning.

One thing is for sure, the Bulls have depth and the bench has been tested. Perhaps this bodes well for Chicago in the remaining regular season games.

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Mirotic, Dunleavy Lead Bulls Over Pacers

The Chicago Bulls stopped a two game slide Wednesday night when two Bulls found the range.  Mike Dunleavy scored 19 of his 21 points in the first half and emerging reserve F Nikola Mirotic scored 20 of 25 points in the second half.

That was enough to propel the Bulls to a 103-86 win at the United Center. When the Bulls score points, they can be tough to beat. Last evening, the Indiana Pacers were a bit out of sync on the offense and that helped the Bulls' cause. When Dunleavy finds the range, Chicago plays better.  He finished with 5 treys.  Pau Gasol had 19 points and 12 rebounds, another double-double. Tony Snell scored 14 points and Aaron Brooks added 13 to "pace" the win.

The Bulls out-rebounded Indiana 52-38.  The team hit 41.5% from the field, which isn't great, but it was enough.

Joakim Noah played another strong game at center.  He scored 6 points, agitated the Pacers, hauled in 13 boards, and had 7 assists. Mirotic also added 9 rebounds.

Coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned that some key players might be returning soon. Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler have been practicing with the team. "They're getting closer, they're going through practice, full contact and everything," said Thibs. "Hopefully it will be soon."

That is good news for the Bulls. Chicago is now 41-28 for the season.

Meanwhile Mirotic is playing well in his first season.

"He's a weapon off the bench," said Pacers coach Frank Vogel.

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Moore's 3 Pointer With 4.9 sec Left Wins It vs OKC

Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder almost had another triple double. He did however score 43 points, the only Thunder player to do that in 3 straight games.

OKC was playing the 2nd game of a back to back and in the waning moments of the 4th quarter, the team looked fatigued.  The Bulls outscored OKC 36-26 in the 4th en route to a thrilling finish when reserve E'Twaun Moore sunk a big trey to give the Bulls a 107-105 lead with 4.9 secs to go. An exciting win without Rose or Butler and the Bulls played like a team.

Nikola Mirotic added a Free-throw after Westbrook stepped out of bounds to give the ball back to the Bulls. Chicago won 108 to 105 against a tired team and a hot player.

This was one of the most satisfying wins of the year, beating a hot team with a sensational player in Westbrook.  The Bulls earned the victory because Mirotic again stepped up to score 23 points and was uncanny from the charity strip. Pau Gasol scored 21 points and had 12 boards. Mike Dunleavy scored 21 points. and Joakim Noah had a big game. Although he only scored 4 points, he had 9 assists (team high) and 12 rebounds.

Moore scored 19 (a career high) and his game winning shot is one to remember. "It's been a while," he said with a smile. For the Bulls call it great timing.

The play was drawn up by head coach Tom Thibodeau. Dunleavy threw a pass to Gasol, who drew two defenders to him, he then passed the ball right to Moore who was wide open on the left of the key.  Moore swished the shot and the United Center went bonkers.

Chicago closed out it's 7 game home stand with a 5-2 record and are now 39-23 for the season.

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Injuries And The Clippers Do Bulls In, 96-86

The injuries are mounting and that is not good news for the Chicago Bulls. Guard Derrick Rose is missing. Taj Gibson has a tender ankle and can't play. And, Jimmy Butler, who is having a breakout season, injured his elbow early in the third quarter of Sunday afternoon's contest and sat out the remainder of the game.

The result: the Bulls were offensively challenged against a tough-minded Los Angeles Clippers squad, who won't back down from anyone. The Clippers got great games from DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul.  Jordan hauled in 26 rebounds, 17 in the first half; the most rebounds at half than anyone in the league to date.  Chris Paul provided the scoring punch with 28 points. Jamal Crawford scored all of his 16 points in the second half, and the Clippers pulled away in the 4th quarter to win 96-86.

The Bulls are missing Derrick Rose but they aren't saying it. They're also missing Gibson and now Butler.

Pau Gasol is recovering from a bug and isn't 100%. He only scored 4 points on 2 of 13 shooting. Key reserve Aaron Brooks is in a slump and shot 5 for 17 from the field. In fact the Bulls shot 31% in the game, a surprisingly low figure. But that happens when your point-makers are out.

Coach Tom Thibodeau of the Bulls thought his team could have won the game.

"It doesn't matter whose out. That was a winnable game down the stretch and we didn't get it done," the coach said post-game.

Rookie F Nikola Mirotic scored a career high 29 points, one of the bright spots for the team.  Joakim Noah had another solid game scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 boards. But Mike Dunleavy only scored 3 points on 1 for 3 attempts. It is hard to win when two starters account for 7 points. 

"Somebody needed to score the ball," Mirotic said. "My teammates were trying to find me."

Jordan had a great game for Los Angeles. He had position and determination to get the ball close in, and wouldn't be denied.

"If he was doing that offensively he would be recognized as the MVP or one of them," Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.

Crawford was scoreless in the first half but erupted for 16 in the second to provide a good second option for the Clippers.

Chicago falls to 37-23 for the year and are fighting for playoff seeding in the tighter Eastern Conference.  The Bulls host the dangerous Washington Wizards on Tuesday at the United Center.

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Bulls' Record 49 point 4th Q. Helps Topple Toronto, 129-120.

Derrick Rose was back in the lineup and Chicago felt the comfort level, scoring 49 fourth quarter points to storm past the Toronto Raptors, the East's top team to date (22-8).  Home is starting to look like "home sweet home" as the Bulls won their 3rd home game in a row to move to 6 wins for the season.  Rose led 7 Bulls in double figures as he tallied 29 points on 12-19 attempts from the field.

The Raptors had won 6 games in a row, all without their top player, G DeMar DeRozen, out with an injury. Kyle Lowry again sparkled for the Raptors, scoring a game high 34 points.

Chicago and Toronto played a taut game for most of 3 quarters, but the Bulls pulled slowly ahead in the third with a 5 point lead. Then the floodgates opened and 49 points were scored in 12 minutes. Sometimes last season, it would take until the third quarter until Chicago had 49 points.

When they are clicking, the Bulls can score points.  Aaron Brooks scored 17 in a reserve role.  Pau Gasol, had 14 to go with 9 rebounds.  Joakim Noah had 14 points and F Nikola Mirotic added 12 points.

Jimmy Butler continues to impress and is making a name for himself in the League. He is an emerging star now, playing 40 minutes a game, doing it all.  His coach, Tom Thibodeau, is singing his praises almost nightly.  "He's playing terrific," "Thibs" said of Butler.

When Rose plays well, The Bulls play well.  They are well over .500 with him in as point-guard.  He apparently is finding is scoring touch.  His knees are holding up. If he is healthy, the Bulls will make some noise this season.

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