Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Pistons center Aron Baynes dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Thursday, March 30, 2017, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) Credit: Carlos Osorio

Chicago — Nikola Mirotic tied season highs with 28 points and six 3-pointers, Jimmy Butler scored 25, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-93 on a night when LeBron James moved into seventh place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

James moved past Shaquille O’Neal, finishing with 26 points and giving him 28,599 for his career — three more than O’Neal. But the big night by the four-time MVP couldn’t prevent the Cavaliers from matching a season high with their third straight loss.

That dropped them a half-game behind Boston for the Eastern Conference lead and left them with a 6-10 record in March.

Rajon Rondo added 15 assists. Robin Lopez had 10 points and 11 rebounds, and the ninth-place Bulls moved within a game of Miami and Indiana in the Eastern Conference standings.

They also finished 4-0 against Cleveland to complete their first sweep of the Bulls since they took all three games during the 2011-12 season.

Pistons 90, Nets 89

Auburn Hills, Mich. — Marcus Morris had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Ish Smith hit the go-ahead 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, helping Detroit beat Brooklyn.

Smith, who finished with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, gave the Pistons an 87-86 lead with 30 seconds left.

Timberwolves 119, Lakers 104

Minneapolis — Ricky Rubio had a career-high 33 points, 10 assists and five rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns scored 32 points to lead Minnesota over the Los Angeles.

Rubio shot 4 of 5 on 3-pointers and Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points for the Timberwolves (30-44), who have now won more games than they did last season.

Minnesota had 30 assists and only 11 turnovers.

Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points and D’Angelo Russell had 14 points and seven assists for the Lakers (21-54), who have lost 17 of their last 19 games. Brandon Ingram missed his third straight game with patellar tendinitis in his right knee.