Chicago boosts NBA playoff hopes

CHICAGO 117 DETROIT 95

CHICAGO — Nikola Mirotic scored a season-high 28 points as the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons 117-95 in a matchup between struggling teams fighting for a playoff spot on Wednesday.

Mirotic shot 12 of 15 and made four of six 3-point attempts to lead Chicago to an easy win after dropping eight of 10.

Jimmy Butler added 16 points and 12 assists. Joffrey Lauvergne filled in for suspended centre Robin Lopez and outplayed Andre Drummond with 17 points and seven rebounds. Rookie Paul Zipser added a career-high 15 points.