NEW YORK – In a thrilling finish, the Brooklyn Nets edged the Chicago Bulls 112-109 on Friday night after overcoming a staggering 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Michael Porter Jr. delivered the decisive layup with just 5.4 seconds left, clinching the victory for the Nets and snapping their five-game losing streak.
Porter showcased his scoring prowess with 26 points, while teammate Noah Clowney added a strong performance of 23 points alongside 11 rebounds. Day’Ron Sharpe contributed 14 points and rookie Danny Wolf chipped in 13 points to secure the win for Brooklyn.
The Bulls had notable contributions from Nikola Vucevic, who tallied 19 points, and Ayo Dosunmu with 18 points, as they opened a critical home-and-home series against the Nets.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez reflected on the team’s recent struggle, noting that they could have emerged victorious in all three games on their recently concluded road trip. The Nets initially built a commanding lead, fueled by a 15-0 run in the second quarter that allowed them to enjoy a 17-point advantage at halftime.
Cam Thomas started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer that pushed Brooklyn’s lead to 92-72. However, the Bulls fought back aggressively, launching an 11-point scoring streak to cut the margin. Thomas managed to halt the Bulls’ momentum with another three-pointer, and the Nets maintained a six-point lead with under a minute left in the game.
In a dramatic turn of events, Chicago rallied to score seven consecutive points, with Tre Jones’ layup giving the Bulls a 109-108 lead with just 11.4 seconds on the clock. The Nets executed a play for Porter, who reclaimed the lead for Brooklyn with a layup. In a final attempt to regain the advantage, rookie Drake Powell intercepted a Bulls pass, leading to two free throws from Clowney, securing the final score of 112-109 after Vucevic’s rushed three-point attempt fell short.
The Nets had a moment of concern earlier in the game when Matas Buzelis missed an uncontested fast-break dunk that could have narrowed the gap significantly. Following that miss, Clowney went on an impressive streak, scoring seven points in quick succession, helping to extend their lead to 17 points at one point.
The two teams will meet again on Sunday in Chicago, where the Bulls will look to regroup while the Nets hope to build on their newfound momentum and secure a consecutive win. The excitement from this matchup continues to fuel anticipation for the upcoming games as both teams strive for improved positioning in the league.