Mirotic, Portis combine to lead Chicago Bulls' blowout win over Boston
Six weeks ago, it was difficult to envision Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis playing on the same team again, let alone working well on the floor together.
Mirotic scored 24 points, Portis added a career-high 23 and the Chicago Bulls won their third in a row, trouncing the Boston Celtics 108-85 on Monday night at the United Center.
As the Bulls improved to 3-0 since Mirotic's return from injury, he told fans during a postgame interview on the videoboard, "The only thing I can say is Niko is back."
The Celtics started the night with a 23-5 record, best in a East and slightly behind Houston for tops in the league. Boston played without leading scorer Kyrie Irving, who was kneed in the quad during Sunday's win at Detroit. Center Al Horford was considered questionable before the game but decided to play.
The outcome was never in doubt after Portis and a lineup of mostly reserves led the Bulls on a 24-2 run in the second quarter. Naturally, most of the postgame questions were about Mirotic and Portis coming together to create a winning streak.
"I don't want to keep talking about me and Niko. that situation's over," Portis said in the locker room. "We're just trying to play basketball, help our team win basketball games. Everybody keeps talking about that, but that doesn't matter anymore. We're just trying to win, go out there and do what we do."
Mirotic's delayed start to the season was directly caused by an Oct. 17 practice altercation with Portis. The incident left Mirotic with a concussion and facial fractures, which is why he missed the first 23 games. Portis was suspended eight games by the team.
Those two players may never be friends off the court, but they've come a long way in a short time. Portis took the lead in celebrating a Mirotic 3-pointer that pushed the Bulls lead to 17 points midway through the fourth quarter. Celtics coach Brad Stevens cleared his bench with about five minutes left.
"We're trying to make it simple," Mirotic said. "I'm doing my job and he's doing his job. Right now when we are both on the court, it seems like the team is playing well. We need to give that credit to (coach) Fred (Hoiberg), because Fred is the one who is making us play; he's the guy who is calling the plays for us and putting us in the right spot to play."
Bulls rookie Lauri Markkanen did not play after developing back spasms in the afternoon, which meant Mirotic would get his first start of the season. Mirotic started quickly, scoring 13 points while hitting 6 of 8 shots in the first quarter.
A lineup of Portis, David Nwaba, Paul Zipser, Jerian Grant and Denzel Valentine sparked the second-quarter run that sent the Bulls into an 18-point lead. Nwaba added 13 points and, according to Bulls radio statistician Jeff Mangurten, Grant became the first Bulls player to record at least 9 assists off the bench in consecutive games since Wes Matthews in 1984.
"I love the way those guys are playing together. It's been fun to watch," Hoiberg said. "When you have five guys out there who can make a shot, it really helps your offense."
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