VIDEO – Nets Recap: #Nets 85 – #Bulls 96
Nets 85 – Bulls 96
The game started with the Bulls being charged with three fouls in the first minute and a half with Brook Lopez being the benefactor. A big dunk by Lopez and a few baskets set the tone for an 15-4 Nets start. Multiple bad Nets turnover turned into a Bulls 11-4 run to bring the game to 21-18. Six Nets turnovers in eight possessions doomed the first quarter and they gave up a 10 point lead to tie the Bulls at 27 after one. Lopez ended with 14 points.
As usual the Bench Mob came in to start the second with Gerald Wallace and Joe Johnson. More turnovers for the Nets resulted in layups. The teams traded buckets most of the quarter for a 41-39 Bulls lead with two to play. Then a 15-0 Bulls run made it 53-39 at half. A horrendous last two minutes of the quarter ruined a good first half. Nets have 13 turnovers at half.
Bad shots and even more turnovers for the Nets allowed Chicago to hold the Nets scoreless since 4:37 in the second quarter. Bulls lead 57-39 early third. The Bulls defense was swarming and Brooklyn had no answers for the constant double teams with poor ball movement. Lopez tried to bring the Nets back from 19 down but with 20 turnovers with five to play in third wont get it done. Embarrassing play. Joakim Noah toyed with the Nets all night. Mirza Teletovic came in down 18 with two to go in third and hit his first shot but Chicago did not miss in the third. Bulls lead 77-59 after three.
Teletovic hit a three to start the fourth although the Nets could not get a stop. The Nets shot 44 percent while allowing Chicago to shoot 52 percent and turned it over 21 times. The bench emptied with two minutes left down 92-77. Bulls win 96-85.
LEADERS:
Points – Lopez – 22
Rebounds – Evans 10
Assists – Williams 6
GAME CHANGER: Chicago went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter sparked by Nets turnovers and led to a 26-12 quarter for the Bulls.
STAT OF THE GAME: The Nets had more field goals in the first quarter (12) than they had in the next two quarters (11). They had 27 points in the first quarter and only 32 in the second and third quarters combined.