The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls are both looking to avoid a third consecutive loss as they face off for the second time this season on Monday in Chicago.
Brooklyn secured a 120-112 victory in their first meeting on November 1, led by Cam Thomas’ 32 points and four assists. Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double for the Bulls with 28 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.
The Nets are coming off two straight home losses to the Orlando Magic, falling 123-100 on Friday and 100-92 on Sunday. Before these setbacks, Brooklyn had won three consecutive games on the West Coast.
Friday’s game against Orlando highlighted the struggles of the Nets’ offense, particularly their starting lineup. Cameron Johnson scored 14 points and Jalen Wilson added 11, but they were the only two Brooklyn starters to reach double figures. Shake Milton led the team with 22 points off the bench, while Trendon Watford and Keon Johnson contributed 13 and 15 points, respectively. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome the starters’ shortcomings.
Sunday showed some improvement for the Nets’ starters, as Dennis Schroder returned and contributed 20 points, complementing Johnson’s 26-point effort. Despite this, the Nets still ended up with an eight-point loss, leaving them three games below .500. Schroder’s return was a positive development for the team.
The Bulls are coming off a 138-129 home loss to the defending champion Boston Celtics on Friday. Despite being tied through three quarters, Chicago faltered in the fourth. Vucevic led the Bulls with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Zach LaVine added 29 points. However, 35 points from Jayson Tatum and 29 from Payton Pritchard off the Celtics’ bench offset Chicago’s efforts.
Chicago’s first of their consecutive losses, like the Nets’, also came against the Magic. The Bulls fell 133-119 in Orlando on Wednesday to a Magic team currently on a six-game winning streak. Despite getting 20 points from Talen Horton-Tucker on 7-of-8 shooting off the bench, coach Billy Donovan expressed concerns about his team’s defensive communication following the loss.
