by Murat Karul
In their In-Season Tournament opener, the Brooklyn Nets secured a thrilling 109-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls, making early regular-season games more meaningful. Dorian Finney-Smith led the Nets with 21 points, while Mikal Bridges added 20, and Cam Thomas contributed 17. The Nets secured the win when Zach LaVine’s buzzer-beater attempt rimmed out.
Finney-Smith, Bridges, and Thomas combined for a total of 11 three-pointers, propelling the Nets to their third consecutive win after starting the season with two losses. DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine each scored 24 points for the Chicago Bulls, with Coby White adding 18 points and Nikola Vucevic recording a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
The red-painted court, part of the league’s efforts to captivate viewers during the tournament, added to the excitement of the game. The contest remained closely contested, with neither team holding a lead of more than 10 points. In the final minutes, the Nets were up 108-104, but LaVine and the Bulls made a late push.
Despite the intense finish, the Bulls couldn’t secure the win, allowing the Nets to clinch victory. Spencer Dinwiddie had 10 points and nine assists for Brooklyn, while Ben Simmons contributed with six assists and 10 rebounds. Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu missed the game due to an upper respiratory illness, and the Bulls will face Orlando in their next In-Season Tournament game before taking on Denver in a regular game.
The Brooklyn Nets will continue their In-Season Tournament campaign against Boston on November 10, and they will also play a regular game against Boston on Saturday night. The Chicago Bulls, on the other hand, will host Orlando in their next In-Season Tournament game on November 17 and face Denver in a regular game on Saturday night.
