CHICAGO -- Nikola Mirotic is on the type of roll he always knew he would be on again.

The 26-year-old Chicago Bulls forward continued his recent torrid play in Thursday night's 99-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 38 minutes.

"I feel that it's my time," Mirotic said. "It's my time to make things right. I just want to enjoy the basketball. I just want to be happy right now. I'm very happy to be here. I want to make an impact at the end of the season. I want to be in the playoffs, that's all."

Nikola Mirotic poured in a game-high 28 points Thursday to pace the Bulls past the Cavaliers, the third time in four games he's hit that total. David Banks/USA TODAY Sports

Since being made inactive in a March 12 loss to the Boston Celtics, Mirotic has responded better than Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg could have hoped. The third-year big man is averaging 18.3 points a game and is playing with a renewed sense of confidence on the floor. After an up-and-down two seasons, Mirotic is playing like the man who had the league buzzing at times during his rookie season.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of the kid," Hoiberg said. "That he didn't just walk away and put his head down and mope. He was the first guy in the gym, two days after he was out of the lineup. Working on his shot, working on his balance, and it's paying off for him in a big way and I couldn't be happier for him."

CHICAGO BULLS Check out the team site for more game coverage CLEVELAND CAVALIERS Check out the team site for more game coverage

Mirotic acknowledged being caught off guard by the initial move of being made inactive, an event that marked the third straight game he didn't play in. He has been upfront about his year-long inconsistency, but he always remained hopeful that better times were ahead. After being given another opportunity down the stretch in a season in which the Bulls are battling to secure the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, Mirotic has been living up to his promise in a major way. He believes he is going to knock down the shot each time he touches the ball.

"I do right now," Mirotic admitted. "It's a great feeling. And the truth is they're finding me. They know that I've been feeling very hot and they're just giving me the ball."

Mirotic is no longer using a pump fake before many of his shots. He looks calmer on the floor and has gotten out of his own way in recent weeks. The benching motivated him to show that he is a better player than what he has shown up to this point in his brief NBA career. After Thursday's win, he noted that sometimes it takes a little more time for younger players to grow into their games. Mirotic stopped thinking so much on the floor and has just started shooting again. For the Bulls, the change in mindset couldn't have come at a better time.

"I think Niko should continue to play like that," Bulls All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler said. "Go out there, think you're the best shooter, best player, whatever you want to be. If it's in your head that you are that, can't nobody take that from you."