Bulls complete season sweep of Cavs
CHICAGO -- Nikola Mirotic scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Jimmy Butler finished with 25 points as the Chicago Bulls completed a season sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 99-93 victory Thursday night at the United Center.
Mirotic, who was 9 of 14 from the field, sparked the Bulls (36-39) from 3-point range as Chicago finished the win 12 of 25 from beyond the arc. Denzel Valentine (12 points) and Robin Lopez (10 points, 11 rebounds) also reached double figures for the Bulls.
LeBron James had with 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Kyrie Irving finished with 20 points for the Cavaliers (47-27). Cleveland lost a third straight game and fell for the fourth time in five games.
Tristan Thompson finished with 15 points for Cleveland, which also got 12 points from J.R. Smith.
The Bulls held off a late Cleveland charge as Mirotic connected on a pair of free throws with 35 seconds remaining after the Cavaliers drew to within 95-90 on a Thompson basket.
Chicago finished the third quarter on an 11-3 run and built a seven-point lead late in the third quarter. A Mirotic 3-pointer gave Chicago a 73-68 lead before Rajon Rondo, who had 15 assists, extended the lead with a driving layup.
Cleveland led 50-41 at the half after James hit a long jump shot to beat the buzzer.
NOTES: Cavaliers F Kyle Korver missed his second straight game with left knee soreness and is also expected to miss Cleveland's game Friday against Philadelphia. ... Cleveland F Richard Jefferson missed the game with left knee tendinitis. Jefferson did not practice Wednesday with the ailment. ... Cavaliers G Iman Shumpert returned after missing the last two games with right knee soreness, and he scored four points. ... Bulls G Dwyane Wade (sprained, fractured elbow) participated in pregame shooting drills before Thursday's game and is hoping to return should the Bulls reach the Eastern Conference playoffs. Wade hasn't played since March 15. On Wednesday, Hoiberg called Wade's rehabilitation a "work in progress" and told reporters that Wade experiences soreness and stiffness after he works out but that team officials want him out "testing" the elbow. ... C Cristiano Felicio was available to the Bulls after missing three games with lower back stiffness, but he did not play.