NOTE: This article originally ran on CSN Chicago.
Who needs Derrick Rose when you have a closer like Nikola Mirotic?
Mirotic is suddenly making a very solid case in the NBA Rookie of the Year discussion, emerging as one of the league's top up-and-coming scorers. He's given the Bulls a huge boost with key players - Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah - missing time recently.
Just look at what he's done this month alone after 14 more fourth-quarter points in Monday's win:
Mirotic is not only scoring more than LeBron and Westbrook in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls rookie is absolutely blowing them away.
Mirotic has scored at least 25 points in four of the Bulls' last five games and is averaging 21 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this month.
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What a stud.
