NEW YORK _ The Bulls are moving closer to having no minutes restrictions for the trio of Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr and Otto Porter Jr.
Each received an increase in playing time Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn, and they were all on the floor for significant minutes down the stretch. Their presence helped the Bulls cut a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to three with 12.9 seconds remaining before Coby White's potential tying 3-point attempt rimmed out.
After a Nets free throw, Porter hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left, but the Nets hung on to hand the Bulls a 110-107 loss, their third in a row and 13th in 15 games.
Porter led the Bulls with 23 points off the bench in 25 minutes, his highest total since returning from a foot injury last week. He finished with a team-best plus-19 point differential during his time on the court.
Markkanen added 14 points in 26 minutes, while Carter had seven points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
While both Markkanen and Carter were inserted back into the starting lineup right away upon their return from injuries, coach Jim Boylen has brought Porter off the bench in the four games since a fractured left foot cost him nearly four months.
It's not the role the Bulls envisioned for Porter when they made him their prize acquisition at the trade deadline a year ago, but Boylen says he likes Porter filling that role for now.
"I think he's comfortable with it, and that's important to me," Boylen said before the game. "He's a guy that can make plays with the second unit, he can be a primary ballhandler, decision maker. He's very skilled, as we all know. His shot-making works in that second group, so just keep working at it."
Porter gives the Bulls another scoring threat they have lacked for stretches this season.
While the sample size is minuscule this season, the Bulls are a much better offensive team with Porter on the floor. Entering Sunday's game, they had a 112.1 offensive rating with Porter on the court, which would rank among the top 10 in the NBA. Without him, they had a 106.2 rating, which would rank in the bottom five.
Porter might not be the only Bull to make his way into the starting lineup before the end of the season. In recent days Boylen has sounded more open to starting rookie guard Coby White, who scored 21 points Sunday, as the season goals shift toward development of the young core.
"There may be a moment where we turn into pure development mode," Boylen said. "That's what you do. To me, if that's what is best for the franchise, that's what helps us to continue to grow and get better, I'm sure we'll do that."
