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 As for the Brooklyn Nets, it will be a nervous two days in the race
to secure the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Mirotic ensured that Brooklyn could not clinch Monday night when he
scored 26 points, hitting three consecutive 3-pointers in the final
81 seconds of the third quarter in Chicago's 113-86 rout.
After losing to Chicago at home for the fourth time in five games
(including Game 7 of the 2013 Eastern Conference quarterfinals), the
Nets are a half-game behind the Indiana Pacers for eighth place in
the East, although Brooklyn holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
"It was a disappointing loss, but the way I look at it is that we
have one more game left and we have to win it," Brooklyn coach
Lionel Hollins said. "The other teams have to win, too. We win
Wednesday and they don't win both games, we're still in. That's the
way I'm looking at it."
The Pacers have the game in hand since they host the Washington
Wizards on Tuesday and visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. The
Nets conclude their season Wednesday by hosting the Orlando Magic in
a game that begins 90 minutes before Indiana tips off.
Miami sits a game behind Brooklyn. The Heat need to win their
remaining game at Philadelphia on Wednesday and hope the Pacers and
Nets lose all their remaining games.
In his fourth game back from a 20-game absence caused by a right
knee injury, Rose collected 13 points and seven assists in 23
minutes. The point guard likely would have played at least five more
minutes had the game been closer, but Mirotic's perimeter display
turned a 78-63 lead into a 87-65 margin entering the fourth.
"It's amazing, mentally too because you saw him on the court, we
have more energy and we feel like everybody's there," Mirotic said
of Rose. "You can see people real excited on the court with Derrick
back, and that gives us much more options."
Mirotic tied a career high with six 3-pointers and came within three
points of his career-best total. He helped Chicago (49-32) move a
half-game ahead of the Toronto Raptors in the race for the third
seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
"With Niko on the floor, it's like another dimension because the way
he spaces the floor," Rose said of Mirotic.
"The beauty of Niko is he's not afraid," Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau
said. "He's been great throughout the season. He has a tough game,
he bounces right back the next one. He's got a great scorer's
mentality."
The first 3-pointer in the late-third-quarter sequence came from the
left corner opposite the Brooklyn bench as forward Earl Clark was
late to rotate. The second came from in front of Brooklyn's bench as
Clark was late again with 53 seconds remaining, and the third came
from the left wing with 33 seconds left as Nets guard Jarrett Jack
was late in defending.
"In the first half, some the players told me, 'Niko, don't think,
just shoot the ball because you're wide open, don't pump-fake," said
Mirotic, who shot 13-for-43 over his previous five games. "These
guys, they're right."
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While Mirotic led the Bulls with his 11th game of at least 20 points
and Rose was effective on both ends, others contributed to the
effort in front of many Chicago fans in the stands.
Forward Pau Gasol posted his league-leading 53rd double-double with
22 points and 11 rebounds. Guard Jimmy Butler added 17 points, and
center Taj Gibson contributed 15 points and nine rebounds in place
of Joakim Noah, who rested his left hamstring.
While Chicago's regulars were effective, Brooklyn's top scorers
struggled all night as the Nets lost for the fourth time in six
games following a season-high, six-game winning streak. Brooklyn was
outscored 56-36 in the second half, shot 36.8 percent, went
20-for-49 inside the paint and had a season-low 12 assists.
"I really honestly can't explain it," Nets forward Joe Johnson said.
"I don't even know how it's possible with this being a very
important game."
Rookie forward Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets with 17 points. Jack
scored 15, but center Brook Lopez was held to 13. Johnson scored 12
points, and point guard Deron Williams was held to nine while
shooting 3-of-13 from the field.
The Bulls never trailed after reserve guard Aaron Brooks hit a
3-pointer for a 16-14 lead late in the first quarter. Chicago led by
14 late in the first half, took a 57-50 lead at halftime and then
opened the third by making seven of its first eight shots.
NOTES: Chicago C Joakim Noah was active but did not play because of
left hamstring tendinitis. It was the 13th game he missed but the
first with any hamstring issues. Earlier this season, he missed two
games with an injured left knee and seven with a right ankle injury.
... Chicago G Kirk Hinrich sat out for the third time in six games
due to a hyperextended left knee. He also missed games April 3-5
against Detroit and Cleveland, and he played about 34 minutes in the
previous three games. ... Brooklyn G/F Alan Anderson missed his
sixth straight game with a sprained left ankle that he originally
injured April 3 against Toronto. ... Monday marked the seventh
straight home game that the Nets faced an opponent missing a
prominent player. Since March 27, the Nets have not faced G Kobe
Bryant, F Paul George, G Kyle Lowry, F LaMarcus Aldridge, F Paul
Millsap and G John Wall.
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