Bulls Game No. 26: Nikola Mirotic hosted a coming-out party in Memphis
24. Final. 97. 211. 103
In the Chicago Bulls‘ fourth game in the last six days — third on the road — Nikola Mirotic decided to host his NBA coming-out party against arguably the league’s best team at the moment.
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Sure, a good chunk of the headlines from the Bulls’ victory against the Memphis Grizzlies will read, “Jimmy Butler scores 30 for the second straight game for the first time in his career” … and rightfully so.
As good as Butler looked once again on Friday night against the Grizz, the Bulls’ 17th victory of the season wouldn’t have happened if not for the shooting exhibition put on by rookie Nikola Mirotic.
The 23-year-old from Montenegro drilled all six of his three-point attempts(!) on Friday night during his 27-point, eight-rebound performance.
Butler’s 31 points on 11/21 shooting led the way, but Mirotic’s razor-sharp stroke from deep made the difference in a clash of arguably the two most physical teams in the entire NBA.
"“We’re still a work in progress with a long way to go, but I liked the toughness we showed. I thought we had a number of guys step up and play well for us. Niko was terrific, Jimmy Butler was phenomenal again. When you look at the rebounding, particularly against on the road … that goes a long way.”-Tom Thibodeau on the Bulls, CSNChicago.com"
Along with Butler taking control of the contest and Mirotic not missing a shot from deep, Friday was the first meeting between “The Brothers Gasol”, Pau and Marc, with Pau in a Bulls uniform.
Although Marc’s stat line looks a tad better than his older brother’s — 13 points, 10 rebounds and three assists — Pau’s six-point, 11-rebound performance came in a win that the Bulls weren’t expected to get in their fourth game in six nights.
Friday was also the first time Pau and Marc had faced-off in a game since February 26 of this year, when Marc’s Grizzlies beat Pau’s Los Angeles Lakers, 108-103.
The Bulls are the first Eastern Conference team to win in Memphis since...the Bulls (December 30, 2013).
— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) December 20, 2014
Thoughts + what’s next for the Bulls
One of the first things I thought outside of Butler/Mirotic was, “Zach Randolph only played 22 minutes tonight? Was he hurt or did Mirotic’s ability to stretch the floor forcing Dave Joerger to go a different route in his gameplan?”
“Threekola” stretched the floor all evening for the Bulls in Memphis. I think two of those three-pointers from Mirotic were taken from around Nashville.
Friday was grit personified for the Bulls, as they picked up their 12th road win in 16 tries this season. That was an impressive and hard-fought victory for a team playing their fourth game in six nights this week.
Butler played sensational again on both ends, scoring 30 in back-to-back games not only for the first time in his career, but he was the first Bull since Derrick Rose in 2012 to accomplish that feat.
The Bulls (17-9) can enjoy a few days off before a Monday night showdown back in Chicago against the Toronto Raptors (21-6). There’s no word yet on whether or not Rose (illness) or Taj Gibson (ankle) will play on Monday.
Rose tweaked his hamstring in the last Bulls-Raptors meeting on November 13th; a 100-93 Bulls victory.
Tip-off from the United Center is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.
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Next: Bulls Game No. 25: Jimmy Butler's career night boosts Bulls over Knicks