NBA: Dorian Finney-Smith, Mikal Bridges assist Nets escape Bulls

Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges (1) drives to the basket previous Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine, high, in the course of the second half of an NBA in-season event basketball recreation Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Picture/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO — Whether or not the brand new In-Season Event provides early regular-season video games like this just a little further which means, Brooklyn’s Dorian Finney-Smith was certain of some issues.

He’ll take the win, and the intense crimson court docket was “cute.”

Finney-Smith scored 21 factors, Mikal Bridges added 20 and Brooklyn beat the Chicago Bulls 109-107 on Friday evening of their event opener.

Cam Thomas added 17 factors, and the Nets got here away with the victory when Zach LaVine’s lengthy jumper for the Bulls on the buzzer hit the rim.

“We’re not a kind of groups that may wait round and attempt to choose it up later within the yr,” Finney-Smith stated. “We’d like each win we are able to get. … The court docket was cute. It was good. We gained so I felt prefer it was good. If we’d have misplaced, it might have been due to the court docket.”

WHAT. A. GAME. pic.twitter.com/G1DDVT3RoT

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 4, 2023

Finney-Smith nailed 5 3-pointers. Bridges and Thomas made three every from past the arc, and the Nets gained their third in a row after opening 0-2.

DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine every scored 24 factors for Chicago. Coby White added 18 factors, and Nikola Vucevic had 13 factors and 13 rebounds.

“I believed for essentially the most half the execution was fairly good coming down the stretch,” coach Billy Donovan stated. “We simply didn’t get stops down the stretch in any respect. They scored extra baskets than we did, and we had a few empty possessions. However general, it wasn’t unhealthy.”

The court docket was painted crimson as a part of the league’s effort to draw channel surfers’ consideration on this event. The best way this one unfolded was most likely sufficient to maintain viewers tuned in.

In a recreation the place neither staff led by greater than 10, the Nets have been up 108-104 with 1:13 remaining after Bridges dunked.

LaVine answered with a floater, and Brooklyn dedicated a shot-clock violation with 38 seconds remaining.

LaVine missed a pull-up jumper. The Bulls bought the rebound and, after a timeout, LaVine missed a wild driving layup.

Bridges bought fouled with 12 seconds remaining and hit the primary free throw to make it 109-106. However he missed the second.

The Bulls bought the rebound and known as time to advance the ball to midcourt. LaVine bought fouled with 4.9 seconds left and made the primary free throw earlier than lacking the second. He then got here away with the ball following a scramble, however his lengthy jumper hit the rim as time expired.

Spencer Dinwiddie had 10 factors and 9 assists for Brooklyn after lacking a recreation due to a sprained left ankle. Ben Simmons added six assists and 10 rebounds, and the Nets accomplished a 3-1 journey.

“I don’t suppose we type of notice how huge of a street journey that was — to go 3-1, win three straight and keep collectively, particularly on the street,” Bridges stated. “We’re not like a dynasty staff that’s been collectively for all these years. You may’t take any win with no consideration.”

Chicago guard Ayo Dosunmu missed the sport due to an higher respiratory sickness. Donovan stated he wouldn’t journey to Denver for Saturday’s recreation.

Nets heart Nic Claxton missed his third in a row due to a sprained left ankle and certain gained’t play at Boston on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Nets: At Boston on Nov. 10 in subsequent In-Season Event recreation. At Boston on Saturday evening in common recreation.

Bulls: Host Orlando on Nov. 17 in subsequent In-Season Event recreation. At Denver on Saturday evening in common recreation.