NBA: Spencer Dinwiddie stars in return to Brooklyn, Nets beat Bulls
Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on February 09, 2023 in New York City. Jamie Squire/Getty Images/AFP
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and made his return to Brooklyn a successful one as the Nets pulled away down the stretch for a 116-105 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls Thursday night in New York.
After being acquired along with Dorian Finney-Smith from Dallas for Kyrie Irving on Monday, Dinwiddie enjoyed a warm reception all night from fans, including chants of “Welcome Back Spencer” when he took free throws.
Dinwiddie made 8 of 17 shots and sank seven free throws. He also handed out six assists and tied a career high with four steals while playing 39 minutes.
The Nets won for the sixth time in 15 games after trading Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren to Phoenix for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder as part of a four-team trade. The deal was officially announced an hour before the opening tip.
🚨 @SDinwiddie_25 🚨 pic.twitter.com/hzg3jzs3kq
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 10, 2023
Cam Thomas added 13 of his 20 points in the fourth after three straight 40-point games, and Joe Harris scored all of his 18 in the second quarter by hitting six 3s. Yuta Watanabe contributed 14 as the Nets shot 42.9 percent and made 17 triples.
Zach LaVine scored 14 of his 38 points in the third to help Chicago take a five-point lead into the fourth. Nikola Vucevic added 15 points and 17 rebounds and DeMar DeRozan finished with 14 points for the Bulls, who shot 46.2 percent but missed 21 of 26 3-point tries.
LaVine scored eight points in a 10-2 run to close the opening quarter as the Bulls took a 26-19 lead. The score reached 32-19 in the opening minute of the second quarter, but the Nets responded and held a 53-50 lead by halftime.
After facing their second 11-point deficit, the Bulls outscored the Nets 28-12 over the final 8:23 of the third quarter. They carried an 84-79 lead into the fourth after LaVine hit a 19-footer with 5.1 seconds left.
Dinwiddie hit three free throws to snap an 88-88 tie with 8:34 left, and Brooklyn opened a 104-92 lead when Watanabe hit an uncontested corner 3 with 4:23 remaining. Dinwiddie clinched the win when he made a 3-pointer from the right side over Coby White for a 109-97 lead with 96 seconds left.
