Spencer Dinwiddie scored 24 points as the host Brooklyn Nets hit an NBA season-high 25 3-pointers and stormed back from a 21-point deficit for an 118-109 victory over the skidding Chicago Bulls on Sunday night.
The Nets gave up the game’s first 13 points and trailed 30-9 with 4:37 left in the first quarter. Brooklyn outscored the Bulls 109-79 the rest of the way and 99-73 over the final three quarters.
Brooklyn finished two shy of the team record set Feb. 15, 2021, in Sacramento and set a record for 3s in a home game. The Nets also finished four shy of the NBA record set by Milwaukee on Dec. 29, 2020.
Royce O’Neale and Lonnie Walker IV added 20 apiece. The duo combined to shoot 12-of-20 from 3-point range as the Nets hit 20 of their 3s after the opening quarter.
Mikael Bridges contributed 15, including the basket that gave the Nets the lead for good at 44-41 with about 5 1/2 minutes left in the second. Trendon Watford contributed 11 and Cameron Johnson finished with 10 before exiting with cramping in his leg.
DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 27 but the Bulls lost their fourth in a row and seventh time in eight games. Coby White added 23 while Patrick Williams and Zach LaVine contributed 20 apiece as the Bulls made 13 of their first 21 shots and eight 3s in the opening quarter and finished at 48.2 percent overall.
The Bulls also gave up the most 3s in team history, eclipsing the 24 they allowed to the Warriors in October 2018 and Nets in April 2018.
The Nets outscored the Bulls 44-19 in the second when they hit 11 3s and held a 63-55 lead by halftime. A 3 and a dunk off a turnover by O’Neale put Brooklyn up 72-57 less than two minutes into the third.
The Bulls countered with a 15-5 run to get within 77-72 on two LaVine free throws with 5:55 remaining before Brooklyn hit four 3s the rest of the quarter for a 96-83 lead.
Finney-Smith hit Brooklyn’s 23rd three-pointer to set the home record with 8:50 left and expand the lead to 102-89. The lead grew to 113-97 on a basket by Bridges about four minutes later to effectively seal it.
–Field Level Media