Nets destroy Bulls in battle of Eastern Conference powers

CHICAGO — The Nets had their Large 3 collectively for simply the second time all season — and for the primary time, they defeated an elite crew.

Make that destroyed an elite crew.

The Nets routed the red-hot Bulls 138-112 Wednesday night time earlier than a sellout crowd of 21,698 on the United Middle. It was a scary efficiency towards the Japanese Convention leaders, and it put the remainder of the league on discover that, at their finest, no person is healthier.

“Yeah. We simply received to do it. Since I’ve been right here it’s been loopy, a number of ups and downs,” stated James Harden, unsurprised at how shortly the Large Three has jelled. “Nah. Like, we’re that good.

“We simply haven’t had sufficient of it. Final we had 15 video games possibly collectively, and this 12 months solely two. We haven’t had an actual season to the place y’all can constantly see how nice we could be. And we’re engaged on that. We have to get to that time.”

Harden had 25 factors and 16 assists, whereas Kevin Durant poured in a team-high 27 factors and 9 assists. However this wasn’t only a two-man present for the Nets, who blew it open with a 42-8 run and at one time led by as a lot as 38.

Kevin Durant and the Nets beat the Bulls on Wednesday night.
Kevin Durant and the Nets beat the Bulls on Wednesday night time.
AP

Although Kyrie Irving scored simply 9 factors, he spaced the ground and moved the ball, serving to Brooklyn (26-14) get each look they wished. They shot 56.3 p.c from the sphere and 17-of-32 from deep to drag inside 1 ½ video games within the East.

“We had an unbelievable resolve all night time,” Irving stated. “We had been in that circulate the place it will get harmful for the opposite crew, for our opponent. We’re hitting 3s, we’re attending to the rim, touching the paint.

“It’s going to be tough for groups to load up and make changes on the fly when you've gotten me, James and Ok on the market.”

It was simply the second time they performed collectively this season, with Irving unvaccinated and unable to play at residence. Approaching the one-year anniversary of Harden’s arrival, the Nets are 13-3 with the Large Three collectively.

James Harden drives to the basket during the Nets' win.
James Harden drives to the basket in the course of the Nets’ win.
AP

Wednesday was a reminder how dominant they are often.

The Nets — enjoying with out LaMarcus Aldridge and Nic Claxton — additionally obtained 20 factors and 7 rebounds from Day’Ron Sharpe in his first profession begin as Brooklyn cooled off the Bulls, who entered the night time winners of 10 of 11.

The Nets had been 0-8 towards Prime 4 groups in every convention, together with 0-2 vs. the Bulls. However Wednesday was a special story.

By the point rookie David Duke Jr. hit a 3 with 4:41 left, they had been up 130-92 and this was a laugher.

“You undoubtedly wish to play nice towards the most effective groups within the league for certain,” Durant stated. “Particularly after shedding final recreation we wished to bounce again regardless of who it was towards.

“It’s good to return right here in a troublesome setting and get a W. … For us to return in right here and win on this vogue, it meant loads to us.”

The Bulls led by 5 early, and had it tied at 29 on Coby White’s 3-pointer.

However Brooklyn untied it with an 11-2 run that spanned the primary and second quarters.

Mills’ pullup gave the Nets a 40-31 lead, they usually by no means trailed once more.

Chicago was in a position to pull even at 71 on a tipin by Nikola Vucevic (14 factors), however the Nets reeled off a 42-8 game-clinching run, sparked by protection.

Rookie Kessler Edwards, who performed strong protection on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, had a block and a steal, and Sharpe rejected Vucevic to result in a Harden 3. When Harden discovered Edwards for a layup, the cushion was again as much as 80-71.

Durant made a stellar look to seek out Mills for an open 3 and an 89-75 lead. He drilled a 3 of his personal to make it 99-79.

Mills’ free throw capped the run to make it 114-79, and the lead simply swelled from there. As did the Nets’ confidence.

Irving and Harden stated they see this crew as a title squad if collectively. Requested if he nonetheless had hope that Irving will one way or the other play at residence, Harden stated jokingly, “Man, I’m gonna give him the shot.”

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