RECAP – FINAL: #Bulls 80 – #Nets 96

By jpaolantonio

Updated: March 4, 2014

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The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls by a score of 96-80 in Brooklyn last night.

The Nets went into this game with a mission to make a statement against a Chicago team that had hammered Brooklyn by a total of 33 points in the previous two losses and they accomplished that mission in resounding fashion.

Right from the beginning Brooklyn took it right at the Bulls and opened up a 27-18 lead after the first quarter and the tone was set.

The defense was incredible as they turned the Bulls over at an amazing rate and Joe Johnson found his stroke to score 12 points at half and the Nets led 50-42.

The third quarter was more of the same as Brooklyn built the lead to as many as 18 points going into the final quarter.

The Bulls cut lead to 80-71 midway through the fourth quarter and Deron Williams responded with a 3-pointer that effectively sealed the win for the Nets.

Johnson scored 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting while Paul Pierce added 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.

The Nets ended up scoring 30 points off the 28 Bulls turnovers in the most dominating defensive performance of the year.

Brooklyn has now won five straight home game at Barclays and are 12-2 at home since Jan. 1.

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“I thought for 48 minutes, I thought maybe they were the most consistent defensively,” Kidd said. “Being active, helping one another. Again, I asked those guys how many backdoors and they all knew the answer, so that just shows that they’re in-tuned in executing the gameplan.”