CHICAGO — Nikola Mirotic scored 24 points, Bobby Portis (Arkansas Razorbacks, Little Rock Hall) added a career-high 23 and the Chicago Bulls blew out Boston 108-85 on Monday night with Celtics star Kyrie Irving sidelined because of a bruised left quadriceps.
Owners of the NBA’s worst record, the Bulls built an 18-point lead in the second quarter against the Eastern Conference leaders. And when Boston cut it to 12 in the fourth, the Bulls simply pulled away for their third conecutive victory.
Mirotic made his first start of the season with leading scorer Lauri Markkanen sidelined because of back spasms. The 6-foot-10 forward hit 9 of 14 shots and grabbed eight rebounds in his third appearance.
Portis shot 10 of 15 and nailed all 3 three-pointers.
Before Monday night, Mirotic and Portis had only made headlines together this season for the wrong reasons.
Mirotic missed the first 23 games with facial fractures he suffered in a fight at practice with Portis.
ROCKETS 130, PELICANS 123
HOUSTON — Clint Capela had a career-high 28 points and James Harden scored 12 consecutive points for Houston in the fourth quarter as the Rockets rallied for a victory to extend their winning streak to 10 games.
The game was tied with about three minutes remaining after Harden made two free throws.
Those were the first of seven consecutive points by Harden that put Houston’s up 124-119 with 1:30 left.
HEAT 107, GRIZZLIES 82
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Goran Dragic scored 19 points, and the Miami Heat pulled away from the lowly Memphis Grizzlies.
Miami shot 56.1 percent from the field and had seven players score in double figures in its second straight win. Josh Richardson had 17 points, and reserves Tyler Johnson and Bam Adebayo finished with 14 apiece.
Memphis lost for the 15th time in 16 games. Marc Gasol scored 19 points on 5-for-14 shooting and Andrew Harrison had 16.
HORNETS 116, THUNDER 103
OKLAHOMA CITY — Dwight Howard scored 23 points to help Charlotte beat Oklahoma City.
Kemba Walker had 19 points for the Hornets, who had lost seven of eight. Marvin Williams scored 18, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 17 points. It was Charlotte’s second road win of the season in 12 tries.
WARRIORS 111,
TRAIL BLAZERS 104
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kevin Durant had 28 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocked shots, leading the short-handed Golden State Warriors past the sluggish Portland Trail Blazers.
Damian Lilliard scored a season-high 39 points with 5 three-pointers playing back home in Oakland.
CLIPPERS 96, RAPTORS 91
LOS ANGELES — Montrezl Harrell scored 17 points and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied over the final 3:21 to beat Toronto and snap the Raptors’ six-game winning streak.
DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Clippers. Their bench outscored Toronto’s reserves 50-17, led by Harrell and Lou Williams.
Sports on 12/12/2017