NIKOHAS RINGSIDE SEAT
Miroticattends1stgame since his altercation with Portis on Oct. 17
The Bulls’ bench was a bit more crowded Tuesday and featured a lot more facial hair.
Attending his first game since being punched by teammate Bobby Portis on Oct. 17, Nikola Mirotic sat courtside during the 104- 99 loss to the Suns at the United Center, and his presence might signal the start of the healing process between the players.
“Those guys were on the floor together at certain points at practice [ Monday], and they were against each other,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said.
“It’s an important part of the process that we’re working through to get this thing as normal as possible moving forward, and to get those guys out there on the floor together is an important part.’’
No sit- down has been scheduled, and there was no interaction between Mirotic and Portis in the huddles during timeouts, but Mirotic’s attempt to reacclimate himself was a good sign.
This ‘‘ breakthrough’’ appeared unrealistic last month after Mirotic and his camp issued an ultimatum to the Bulls, insisting that Portis had to go or Mirotic would be willing to waive his no- trade clause so that he could be sent elsewhere.
Besides the lack of a market for either player, vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said he’d do “what’s best for the organization.’’
Translation: They weren’t going to be held hostage by ultimatums.
The other big step for Mirotic will be meeting with the media for the first time since the practice altercation and telling his side of the story.
That could happen at some point this week.
“It’s great to have Niko back on the [ practice] floor,’’ Hoiberg said. “Obviously, he’s still rusty right now.’’
His return depends on how quickly he gets his conditioning up. On a team desperate for some offense, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
After building a 29- 28 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Bulls ( 316) fell on hard times in the second quarter, shooting 6- for- 26 ( 23.1 percent) from the field, including only 2- for- 12 ( 16.7 percent) from threepoint range.
“Getting bodies back will help, but when adversity hits, just keep playing the right way,’’ forward Denzel Valentine said of the offensive inconsistency that has plagued the starters and reserves.
“We have guys that try to do it themselves sometimes, kind of get out of character. We turn the ball over or don’t play defense, then we come down, and we don’t know what we’re in. It’s just discipline and a sense of urgency at this point.
“That’s youth. We have a lot of new guys that aren’t used to playing at this level or have new roles. As long as we can keep showing we can get better, though, that’s what matters.’’
Not that all the youth struggled against the Suns.
Despite four more turnovers, including a late one, Kris Dunn scored a career- high 24 points and had eight assists.
“I thought Dunn came out very aggressive, he was really attacking,’’ Hoiberg said. “That has to be his mentality every night. The overall consistency has to be there for him.’’