The Chicago Bulls got a good team effort from top to bottom in their first game of 2016 against the New York Knicks. Nikola Mirotic was a catalyst and made the play that stood out from the 108-81 Bulls victory.
On one particular play from Friday’s win for the Bulls, Nikola Mirotic was the one guy at your local workout facility that always thinks he’s in “the zone”.
You know which guy I’m talking about.
The guy that wears the headband and the shooting sleeve and thinks he’s the second coming of LeBron James and can do it all on the basketball court?
Yeah, that guy.
Only on this occasion, Mirotic’s ridiculous shot selection paid off.
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The Bulls entered the fourth quarter on Friday night with a 77-73 lead after jumping out to a 20-6 start in the opening quarter of the game. In typical Bulls fashion, they let a team get back into a game they were in complete control of and were in danger of letting one slip away… again.
But, the Bulls went on a 15-6 run in the first five minutes of the quarter and took a 92-79 lead.
Here’s where the fun began.
One possession in the half-court stalled for the Bulls and Nikola Mirotic was stuck out out near the midcourt logo isolated against Carmelo Anthony with the shot clock winding down.
Without really any hesitation at all, Mirotic pulled from the next county over and drained the triple.
Mirotic makes this believe it or not, but it only counts if he yelled, "KOBE!" pic.twitter.com/ZPxTEJpTUz
— Michael Whitlow (@couldbelikemike) January 2, 2016
If you don’t believe me, here’s the actual footage:
When it’s your night, it’s your night.
The shot gave the Bulls a 95-79 lead; a lead they wouldn’t come close to relinquishing again.
Mirotic finished the night with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Like many watching the game, Jimmy Butler shared his thoughts of what went through his mind after Mirotic hit a shot from near the Bulls locker room in the fourth quarter.
Butler on Mirotic's 30 footer: "I literally if you look at my face, I said, "Oh sh**." Not even joking. I was like, damn. He was feeling it"
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 2, 2016
Same, Jimmy… same.
On a personal note, my reaction was somewhere in the range of Steve Kerr watching Stephen Curry after he does something that normal humans don’t do.
"Niko, what the hell are you ... hahahahaha." https://t.co/EWSjDu8xDr
— Michael Whitlow (@couldbelikemike) January 2, 2016
For an even better look at where Mirotic pulled from, here’s Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s overhead look on the replay:
Personally, Mirotic took the HORNS set a little too seriously on this shot.
After going 1-of-8 shooting in the last two games combined for the Bulls since his 23-point outing the night after Christmas against Dallas, Mirotic exploded out of the gate early and stayed the course on Friday.
Related Story: Bobby Portis Has Earned a Rotation Spot
Mirotic played one of—if not—his best game of the season on Friday night. Sure, his shot selection could still use some work (check this one out that didn’t go in), but when he’s hitting shots, his game makes the Bulls a dangerous team on the offensive end.
The Bulls’ struggles on the offensive end have been well-documented, but Mirotic was one of the many contributions against the Knicks. Mirotic and four other Bulls—Pau Gasol, Jimmy Butler, Bobby Portis and Doug McDermott—all scored at least 13 points.
Mirotic hit four of the Bulls’ 10 three-pointers on 16 attempts (efficiency!) and the Bulls bounced back from a poor loss in their previous meeting with the Knicks after their four-overtime marathon game against the Detroit Pistons.
Next: Jimmy Butler's Relationship with Fred Hoiberg
Since Dec. 16, Mirotic has had six games of either no or one field goals made in that nine-game span. Friday could’ve marked a turning point for Mirotic, or could mean a step back or two for the second-year big man.
He’s still a streaky player from game-to-game, but when Mirotic is efficient, good things happen for the Bulls.