CHICAGO _ Coach Fred Hoiberg started Nikola Mirotic for the slumping Bobby Portis Saturday night against the Jazz at the United Center.
Portis finished the game, though, scoring a career-high 22 points as the Bulls notched a desperately needed victory, 95-86, over the Jazz. That's just the second victory in nine games for the Bulls, who have dropped to 10th in the East.
Denzel Valentine scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter and posted his first career double-double with a career-high 12 rebounds. Jimmy Butler added 23 points.
"Part of it is matchup with the way Utah starts when they're playing small," Hoiberg said of starting Mirotic. "Joe Johnson kind of playing the 3-4, so we wanted to get Niko out there. He's got a little bit more experience with perimeter guys and also just a change of rhythm a little bit. Getting Bobby back to that bench role, hopefully coming out with great energy and giving us good minutes."
The Jazz were without Rodney Hood, Shelvin Mack and Derrick Favors.
