FILE–DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images/AFP
DeMar DeRozan scored seven of his 28 points in a decisive run early in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls pulled away for a 118-95 victory over the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
DeRozan hit 10 of 20 shots and scored at least 25 points for the fifth straight game to help the Bulls beat the Nets for the third time in the past 14 meetings. Zach LaVine added 24 as Chicago shot 46.9 percent overall and outscored Brooklyn 42-17 in the final period.
Bulls rookie Ayo Dosunmu added 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to go along with seven rebounds. Lonzo Ball and Javonte Green added 11 apiece while Nikola Vucevic posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 boards as Chicago outrebounded Brooklyn 56-42.
Kevin Durant led all scorers with 38 points, including 11 in the fourth, but the Nets saw their five-game winning streak end. LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 and James Harden chipped in 14 for Brooklyn, which missed 15 of 20 shots in the fourth and shot 39.5 percent overall.
LIVE: Postgame media availability after tonight's win over the Nets https://t.co/3miTFkyvDa
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 9, 2021
The Bulls turned a two-point deficit through the third into a lopsided win after consecutive close losses to the Philadelphia 76ers. Chicago scored 13 straight points in a span of 3:08, and DeRozan started it with consecutive mid-range jumpers.
Chicago never trailed after Dosunmu hit a free throw with 10:02 remaining, and DeRozan capped the burst with a 14-footer for an 89-80 lead with 8:19 to go. Vucevic’s 16-footer made it 99-86 with 5:21 remaining, and DeRozan’s 3-pointer nearly two minutes later made it 110-91 and essentially clinched it.
LaVine scored 12 points as the Bulls shot 55.2 percent and took a 35-27 lead after the first 12 minutes. Aldridge’s jumper gave the Nets their first lead at 40-39 with 5:42 remaining in the second quarter, and Brooklyn ended the half with a 12-4 run for a 57-51 lead by intermission.