The Brooklyn Nets (32-22, fifth in the Eastern Conference) host the Chicago Bulls (26-28, ninth in the Eastern Conference) at Barclays Center on Thursday for the third of four matchups between the teams this season. Chicago currently leads the regular-season series 2-0.
In the first game, a Bulls 108-99 win on Nov. 1, Zach LaVine scored 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to lead Chicago to a win over Brooklyn in its first game after firing Steve Nash. Kevin Durant scored 32 points in the losing effort while Kyrie Irving scored only four points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field.
In the second game, a Bulls 121-112 win on Jan. 4, DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Williams scored 22 points to lead Chicago to the win and as a result, snapping Brooklyn’s 12-game winning streak at the time. Durant scored 44 points, but it was not enough to win the game.
Brooklyn comes into this game having won just five of its past 13 games without Kevin Durant. Ever since Friday, the Nets have been short-handed thanks to the Irving trade. However, they should have Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith to add some depth. Chicago comes into this game having won 10 of its last 17 games and were recently on a three-game winning streak before losing to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday. It was the Bulls’ worst offensive performance this season as they scored the least amount of points in a game this season (89) and DeRozan being out with a sore right hip had something to do with that.
Here’s when and where you can tune in to see the matchup: