Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls: Live Score, Highlights and Reaction
Behind 23 points from Derrick Rose (8-of-15 shooting, 3-of-7 from three), the Chicago Bulls crushed the depleted Brooklyn Nets, 105-80, Wednesday night.
The Nets (8-12) have now lost three straight by an average margin of 23.3 points.
Brooklyn was without the services of Joe Johnson (flu-like symptoms), Brook Lopez (back) and Mirza Teletovic (hip pointer), but the Bulls (13-8) didn't have their full complement of studs, either. Joakim Noah was sidelined due to an ankle sprain while Doug McDermott missed Wednesday's contest with soreness in his right knee.
Although things were tied at 51 after 24 minutes of play, the Bulls simply dominated the second half, outscoring the Nets, 54-29, while holding the opposition to 26 percent shooting from the field over the final two frames. The Bulls also out-rebounded the Nets, 31-18, during that span.
All five Bulls starters finished in double figures. Pau Gasol, who tallied 16 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks, finished with his seventh straight double-double and 13th of the season.
Taj Gibson, who started in place of Noah, tied a career-high with six blocks to go with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Mike Dunleavy added 14 points while Jimmy Butler chipped in 18.
As a team, the Nets shot just 33 percent from the field and 21.4 percent from three. Deron Williams led the way with 17 points (5-of-15 shooting) and five dimes as four Brooklyn players finished in double figures.
Kevin Garnett totaled 13 points and seven boards, but the Nets couldn't muster enough offensive firepower to overcome the absences of Johnson and Lopez. However, Garnett did rack up two steals in the loss, making him the 16th player in league history to record at least 1,800, according to the Nets on Twitter.
The Nets will attempt to get back on the winning track Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers while Chicago is slated to square off against the Portland Trail Blazers after a day off on Thursday.
