Inside The Nets

Brooklyn Nets Overcome Slow Start, Blaze Past Chicago Bulls with Sizzling Shooting

The Brooklyn Nets bucked a slow start in the first quarter with hot shooting to win the game.

Peter Sunjic

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On the second night of a back-to-back against the Chicago Bulls, the Brooklyn Nets Brooklyn had nothing working for them, as they were not hitting shots and missed defensive rotations.

That all changed in the second quarter as the Nets turned it around and had a magnificent 44-point performance while holding Chicago to only 19 points in the second 12 minutes. 

Following that point, the team maintained a substantial lead for the majority of the game, securing a comfortable 118-109 victory and bringing their record back to .500 at 8-8.

“Somehow, someway we stayed together. Not separate, we’ll figure this thing out by the end of this game,” Coach Jacque Vaughn said in his post-game presser. “That’s the growth you want at this time of the year. I’ve seen so many games like this, back-to-back, energy was not very high at the beginning of the game and you lose that game because you just kinda give up and give in. And this group did not do that.”

The standout second-quarter performance

After going down to a massive deficit in the first twelve minutes, coach Jacque Vaughn and his team managed to respond well. It was one of the best shooting displays of the season as they hit 11 three-pointers, setting an all-time franchise record for most makes in a quarter.

Despite the Bulls attempting comebacks, the Nets' confidence remained exceptionally high, preventing any successful resurgence from their opponents.

The role players were the main reason behind that second-quarter run with Royce O’Neale, Lonnie Walker IV, and Day’Ron Sharpe controlling the game. 

Nic Claxton was a late scratch due to another ankle injury, but O’Neale proved to be the deciding factor in the first half with how his rebounding and pushing the pace.

A well-rounded run for the Nets

Spencer Dinwiddie led the team in scoring with 24 points while also dishing seven assists. The rest of the squad had some notable performances with Royce O’Neale and Lonnie Walker IV notching 20 points apiece.

Trendon Watford was another bright spot off the bench, cementing himself in the rotation not only as a backup big but as a reliable ball-handler too.

Now, the Nets look forward to another home game against the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, November 28.

Jacque Vaughn believes there are positive takeaways from the Nets' defensive struggles

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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