| |
|
NBA -- Mirotic, Gasol star as Bulls nail playoffs berth
By Homer D. Sayson PhilBoxing.com Tue, 24 Mar 2015

CHICAGO -- Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol provided the 1-2 punch that guaranteed the Chicago Bulls a playoffs spot.
Mirotic made 10 of 19 field goals for 28 points while Gasol sizzled with 27 and 12 boards to lead the Bulls to a 98-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night at the United Center.
After missing 11 games with a sprained elbow, Jimmy Butler returned to the starting lineup and helped Chicago's cause with 19 points and 9 rebounds in 40 minutes. Aaron Brooks added 13 and 10 assists for the Bulls, who shot 45.1 percent from the field.
"It was great to have him back," Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau was quoted by the Associated Press.
And while star point guard Derrick Rose remains sidelined following knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Thibodeau told reporters that Rose is "making good, steady progress."
The loss was a big blow for the Hornets, who dropped out of the playoffs picture at 30-39, a half-game behind the No.8-ranked 31-39 Boston Celtics.
Charlotte took a 49-48 halftime lead before surrendering the lead in the third quarter, where they got outscored 26-20. The Bulls then put the finishing touches in the final 12 minutes and held the Hornets to 17 fourth-quarter points.
Photo: The 1-2 punch of Nikola Mirotic (L) and Pau Gasol was too much to handle for the for the Charlotte Hornets, who lost the Chicago Bulls, 98-86, at the United Center.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri , Tue, 17 Mar 2026700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title , Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory , Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS) , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS) , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28 , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29 , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Fri, 13 Mar 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|