NBA: Bulls snap 6-game skid with 44-point rout of Nets
Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls celebrates a dunk against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at United Center on February 24, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP
Zach LaVine scored 32 points and DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams added 17 apiece as the host Chicago Bulls thumped the Brooklyn Nets 131-87 on Friday night to snap a six-game losing streak.
Chicago, which earned its first victory since Feb. 6, led by as many as 50 points. At 44 points, the Bulls improved upon their previous best margin of victory this season by 15.
Article continues after this advertisementWith LaVine’s follow-up dunk late in the third quarter, Chicago had as many points in the paint as the Nets had total points — 44.
Brooklyn has lost a season-worst four consecutive games on the road and three of four overall. Friday opened a stretch that will see the team play nine of its next 11 games away from home.
Cam Thomas scored 22 points to lead four Nets in double figures. Seth Curry (19), Mikal Bridges (13) and Cam Johnson (10) followed.
Article continues after this advertisementZach LaVine looked smooth as ever tonight.
32 points | 12-17 FG | 4-6 from three pic.twitter.com/zgG2C358a6
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 25, 2023
The Bulls shot 56.8 percent from the floor compared to 37 percent for the Nets.
Andre Drummond (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Nikola Vucevic (13 points, 10 rebounds) both notched double-doubles for Chicago. Dalen Terry added 11 points for Chicago and Ayo Dosunmu grabbed nine rebounds as the Bulls enjoyed a plus-26 advantage under the boards (57-31).
Chicago native Patrick Beverley, who the Bulls signed during the All-Star break, had eight points, five rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes in his team debut.
Clicking behind 51 percent shooting, the Bulls raced to a 63-29 halftime lead. LaVine sparked the attack with 18 points on a 7-for-10 effort from the floor, including 2-for-3 from deep. DeRozan followed with 13 points.
Brooklyn slumped to 24.4 percent shooting in the first 24 minutes as the Bulls surrendered their fewest points of any half this season. Bridges paced the Nets with 10 points.
The Bulls avenged an 11-point road loss to the Nets on Feb. 9 to capture the season series 3-1. Chicago has won five of the past seven matchups with Brooklyn.
