CHICAGO After a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss in Brooklyn on Friday, the Chicago Bulls wasted no time flipping the script. Behind a scorching shooting night from Coby White and a balanced offensive attack, the Bulls demolished the Brooklyn Nets 124-102 on Sunday night at the United Center, earning a split of their weekend home-and-home series.
The victory improves Chicago to 20-22 on the season as they continue to fight for seeding in the crowded Eastern Conference play-in picture.
White Hot from Deep
Coby White was the catalyst for Chicago from the opening tip. The dynamic guard finished with a game-high 24 points, knocking down a season-best seven 3-pointers.
After struggling with his rhythm earlier in the month, White looked completely in the zone, punishing the Nets’ drop coverage and pushing the pace in transition. His back-to-back threes in the first quarter sparked a 10-0 run that gave Chicago a 17-point lead they would never relinquish.
“I just wanted to be aggressive early,” White said postgame. “We let one slip away on Friday, and we knew we had to protect home court tonight.”
Strength in Numbers
While White provided the sizzle, the Bulls’ depth provided the substance. Head Coach Billy Donovan got double-digit contributions from six different players:
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Ayo Dosunmu: Continued his Sixth Man of the Year campaign with 19 points off the bench, providing relentless energy and two crucial threes to close the first quarter.
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Nikola Vucevic: A steady force in the middle, “Vooch” tallied 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, picking apart the Nets’ interior defense.
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Matas Buzelis: The sophomore forward continues to impress, chipping in 17 points and showing flashes of elite two-way potential against Brooklyn’s wings.
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Jalen Smith: Added a gritty double-double off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
As a team, Chicago moved the ball beautifully, dishing out a staggering 41 assists while shooting 52.1% from the field.
Nets Missing Firepower
The Nets (12-28) entered the contest shorthanded, opting to rest their leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. (25.8 PPG) on the second night of travel. Without MPJ’s shot-making, the Nets’ offense sputtered, managing just 22 points in the first quarter and falling behind by as many as 27.
Bright spots were few for Brooklyn, but their youth movement showed promise. Rookie guard Nolan Traore led the team with 16 points off the bench, while fellow rookie Danny Wolf and second-year wing Jalen Wilson each added 14 points.
The “Soldier Field” Effect
The game tipped off with a surprisingly sparse crowd, a rarity for the United Center. The reason? The Chicago Bears were hosting the Los Angeles Rams in a massive NFC Divisional Round playoff game just a few miles away at Soldier Field.
As the Bulls pulled away in the second half, the loudest cheers in the arena actually came during timeouts, when the jumbotron showed highlights of the Bears’ first touchdown.
What’s Next?
The Bulls will look to build a winning streak as they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The Nets head home to Brooklyn to face the Phoenix Suns on Monday, hoping to get Porter Jr. back in the lineup.
