Nikola Mirotic Says Moving Forward with Bobby Portis Sparked Bulls' Success

After the Bulls defeated the New York Knicks 92-87 at United Center on Wednesday, Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic said he believes the team's recent run of success has been facilitated in part by the way he and Bobby Portis have moved on from their preseason altercation, per ESPN.com's Nick Friedell:

"I think it was huge. I think it was huge because people didn't know how we were going to act because it was a tough moment obviously for all of us, especially for me. But I think [up to now] we've handled it well. We've tried to be professional. That was really important for the guys because we kind of tried to stick together."

Mirotic, who made his 2017-18 regular-season debut Dec. 8 against the Charlotte Hornets, missed the first 23 games of the campaign. Portis threw a punch at him during an October practice, causing facial fractures and a concussion.

"They hashed it out," point guard Kris Dunn said last week, per Friedell. "They brought that positivity back into the team. They're playing well off each other. They're playing unbelievable basketball. ... It's special for the team to see. We're proud to have them both back."

The Bulls have won nine of 11 games since Mirotic returned to the floor, and they're now 12-22 on the season after starting the year 3-20. As a result, they're just six games back of the eighth-seeded Miami Heat.

Through 11 appearances, Mirotic is averaging 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game on 50.4 percent shooting from the field, including 47.5 percent shooting from three.

And according to NBA.com's lineup data, the Bulls have outscored opponents by 20.8 points per 100 possessions when Mirotic and Portis have shared the floor this season.

Chicago will be back in action Friday when it hosts the Indiana Pacers.