LaVine and DeMar DeRozan finished with 24 points each
The Bulls changed their usual hardwood for one completely painted red
The Brooklyn Nets triumphed this Friday 109-107 at the Chicago Bulls field and they started the new tournament within the NBA season with a home victory, with a solid group performance led by five triples and 21 points from Dorian Finney Smith.
To Finney Smith’s big night, one of the cards obtained last year in the operation that led to Kyrie Irving to Dallas, Mikal Bridges’ 20 points were added, with three triplesand Cam Thomas’ 17, also with three three-point baskets.
The Nets won a very close gamea face-off in which the Bulls had the last ball, with a three-point attempt by Zach LaVine that was repelled by the rim.
LaVine and DeMar DeRozan finished with 24 points eachCoby White scored 18, and Nikola Vucevic contributed a double double of thirteen points and twelve rebounds.
An important difference in the match was marked in the three-point shots; 18 connected by the Nets compared to the eleven of the Bulls. Brooklyn is now 3-2, while Chicago drops to 2-4.
New parquet in Chicago
For the first time in 57 years of history, The Bulls changed their usual hardwood for one completely painted redwith a darker ‘hallway’, and with the new NBA cup in the center.
The Bulls, six-time NBA champions, They modified their track like the other 29 franchises in the league. Those from Chicago were the only ones along with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers that had never changed their floor in their history.
Chicago and Brooklyn are in group C of the East, with Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors. The first will advance directly to the knockout phase along with the winners of the other five groups, and will be accompanied by the two best runners-up.
Las Vegas will host the semifinals and the final at the T-Mobile Arena with a final four scheme, from December 7 to 9.
The sports competition will also be added an important economic incentivesince each player on the winning team will take home half a million dollars.
The Nets win the final head-to-head
Two franchises with a similar balance were measured, 2-3 the Bulls and 2-2 the Nets, and Balance reigned on the field, with Dorian Finney Smith lighting up the Nets with 16 points and four of four on three-pointers at halftime, with DeRozan and LaVine holding the Bulls up.
Both teams were above 50% in triples in a first half in which the Nets gained a one-point advantage (59-58).
Every attempt by the Nets to escape on the scoreboard Chicago responded based on partialsand everything was left open until the last second.
Bridges, who shortly before had been the protagonist with a great dunk with two hands, He had two free hands in his hands to sentence the duelbut missed one and gave Chicago the last chance at 109-106.
The Bulls, who had achieved an epic comeback against the Toronto Raptors last week, had an option.
LaVine reached the foul line, connected the first and missed the second, but he captured the rebound. He had time left on the clock, but he hurriedly shot three points, at 107-109, without being able to connect, which determined Chicago’s defeat.