Nikola Mirotic is back. Now the Bulls need to figure a way to schedule the Hornets more often.
Snapping a 10-game losing streak, the Bulls outlasted the Hornets 119-111 in overtime Friday night in Charlotte, N.C.
The Bulls' last victory also came against the Hornets at the United Center on Nov. 17, which broke a five-game losing streak.
Lauri Markkanen posted his seventh double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds, hitting big 3-pointers near the end of both regulation and overtime.
Kris Dunn finished with his first double-double of 20 points and 12 assists, scoring the go-ahead hoop on a drive with over 2 minutes left in overtime.
Mirotic scored on a three-point play on his first touch after a nifty feed from David Nwaba, who started the overtime over Denzel Valentine because of his game-long energetic outing.
Mirotic finished with six points on 2 for 7 shooting, while Nwaba had 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Mirotic was the first big man off the bench, ahead of Bobby Portis, whose punch broke two of Mirotic's facial bones and concussed him on Oct. 17. Mirotic missed the first 23 games.
Portis played backup center. And with Cristiano Felicio not playing in the first half, expect this to be the big man rotation moving forward. Mirotic will back up Markkanen. Portis will back up Robin Lopez, who had a double-double before fouling out.
Coach Fred Hoiberg said Mirotic will remain on a minutes limit in his early going.
Kemba Walker, who torched the Bulls for 47 points last month, managed 20 but on 5 for 16 shooting.
