Bulls top Pistons to keep hope alive
CHICAGO -- They didn't have their top two centers, but the Chicago Bulls kept their playoff hopes alive with a 117-95 victory against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night at the United Center.
Paced by Nikola Mirotic's 28 points, the Bulls (34-38) pulled even with the Pistons (34-38) for ninth in the Eastern Conference. Both teams are 1 1/2 game behind the Miami Heat (35-36) for the conference's eighth and final playoff spot.
Chicago didn't have starting center Robin Lopez, who served a one-game suspension for a fight Tuesday with Toronto Raptors forward Serge Ibaka. The Bulls were also without his main backup, Cristiano Felicio, who injured his back against the Raptors.
It didn't matter thanks to Mirotic and a cast of other role players who filled the gap a day after Chicago blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in a 122-120 loss at Toronto in overtime.
Mirotic joined the starting lineup along with forward Joffrey Lauvergne, who started at center for Lopez. It was more than enough against the struggling Pistons, who lost for the second time in as many days and have dropped five of their past six games.
Lauvergne finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, Paul Zipser had 15 points, and Jimmy Butler contributed 16 points and 12 assists for the Bulls. Denzel Valentine (eight points) and Bobby Portis (12 points) led Chicago's bench scoring.
Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris each had 14 points to lead Detroit, which also got eight points and 17 rebounds from Andre Drummond. Jon Leuer (13 points) and Stanley Johnson (12 points) also scored in double figures for the Pistons.
Chicago led 59-53 starting the third, and pulled away in that quarter by outscoring Detroit 32-20. Mirotic scored 12 points in the third on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from the 3-point line.
NOTES: Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg defended Robin Lopez after the Bulls center was suspended one game for a fight Tuesday with Toronto Raptors F Serge Ibaka. "He's got a fire to him you just don't ever want to take away," Hoiberg said. "This game gets very competitive, obviously. It was unfortunate what went down, but we've all got Robin's back." ... The Bulls honored former general manager Jerry Krause with a moment of silence prior to the game. Krause, who constructed six NBA championship teams, died Tuesday at age 77. ... Pistons G Michael Gbinije missed his seventh game with a left ankle sprain.