The Chicago Bulls secured a comfortable win over the New York Knicks on Saturday night, inflicting a franchise-worst 60th loss on their rivals in the East.
Nikola Mirotic scored 24 points off the bench as he continues his impressive form in recent weeks, while Pau Gasol added 19 points and 12 rebounds in a routine win for the Bulls.
The Knicks dropped their seventh straight game and 14th in the last 16 as they fall to 14-60 for the season, while Chicago in contrast improved to 45-29 as they chase down the second spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jimmy Butler added 18 but it was Mirotic who stole the headlines as the rookie ends March averaging 20.8 points in 15 games this month.
Meanwhile, Gasol recorded his league-leading 48th double-double as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games.
Over in the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors clinched top seed in the standings and set a franchise record for wins after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks to move to 60-13 for the year.
Stephen Curry scored 25 points while Klay Thompson added 21 as the Warriors now hold a 10-game lead over second-place Memphis Grizzlies in the West with just nine games remaining in the regular season.
However, it wasn’t a good night for the Oklahoma City Thunder as despite 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists from Russell Westbrook, they fell to a road defeat to the Utah Jazz.
Rudy Gobert ended the game with 13 points and 15 rebounds as well as four blocks, while Trey Burke scored 22 off the bench to propel the Jazz’s comeback.
Elsewhere, the Atlanta Hawks slipped to defeat against the Charlotte Hornets without injured point guard Jeff Teague, while the Portland Trail Blazers picked up a big win over the Denver Nuggets as the race for seeding in the West continues.
NBA Results
Atlanta Hawks 100-115 Charlotte Hornets
New York Knicks 80-111 Chicago Bulls
Golden State Warriors 108-95 Milwaukee Bucks
Oklahoma City Thunder 89-94 Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets 114-120 Portland Trail Blazers
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