NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets (12-27) have lost five straight heading into Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls (19-22), but each game offers a new chance to start a winning streak. Brooklyn had a disappointing three-game road trip, unable to close out games despite leading, but they found a way to get the job done against Chicago.
Despite blowing a 20-point lead, the Nets defeated the Bulls 112-109, making the right plays to put the ball in the hands of their best scorers and sealing the win for a team that desperately needed it. Forward Michael Porter Jr. had 26 points (including the game-winner) and seven rebounds, while forward Noah Clowney bounced back with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
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From the start, Brooklyn had trouble guarding Bulls center Nikola Vucevic, who finished with 19 points and six rebounds, but Chicago came alive in the second half, shooting 56.5% from the field and scoring 18 fast-break points. Ultimately, the Nets found a way to win this game, so here are three takeaways from the Nets’ win over the Bulls on Friday:
Michael Porter Jr. follows
The Nets don’t have that many games down the stretch, as they’re dead last in the league in terms of number of key games played this season. Porter, however, who finished with 26 points and seven rebounds, had one of his best moments in Brooklyn this season, driving to the rim for a tough layup to seal the victory.
Noah Clooney combines aggression with efficiency
Clowney had a rough January as his shooting numbers dropped across the board, especially his three-point shooting. Not only has Clowney bounced back from his performance this month, but he’s shown what he can be like when he puts his shooting, driving and defensive abilities together.
Nets temporarily shut down in fourth quarter
As mentioned above, the Nets don’t have that many games that go down to the wire (which the NBA describes as games within five points in the final five minutes). Brooklyn hasn’t been as effective in clutch games either, ranking 30th in winning percentage (23.5%) even after Friday’s win over the Bulls. The Nets led by as much as 20 points, but Brooklyn ended a winnable game in front of their home fans thanks to strong play from Michael Porter Jr. and rookie Derek Powell in the final seconds.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 3 takeaways from Nets’ 112-109 win over Bulls on Friday Coby White
