Despite 44 points from Kevin Durant, the Bulls snapped the Nets’ winning streak

” They came to play. They are desperate to win, we need the same desperation. Jacque Vaughn summed up in a few words the state of mind displayed by the Bulls looking to erase two consecutive losses against the Cavs. The successful operation and not the least because the team in the best shape of the league showed itself opposite.

This success is first and foremost in an attack that has shown signs of progress and has shown that danger can come from anywhere, not just from its three main players. Therefore, no less than six elements finished with 10 points or more, with the Nets’ attack resting almost exclusively on the shoulders of Kevin Durant, supported only by Kyrie Irving and Seth Curry.

Defensively overwhelmed in the first quarter (40-33), the Nets started the second period ten points behind (69-59) but with better defensive intentions. Enough to return to a possession twelve minutes from time (88-85).

But with five “small balls” in the first minutes of the fourth, sparked by the power of the duo Ayo Dosunmu – Goran Dragic, the Bulls will again run away with the score (106-95) without the Nets being able to do better than in an exchange of baskets – between Kevin Durant and DeMar DeRozan especially – to finish.

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

– Almost all Bulls are positive. Rare enough to be underlined. Only Coby White, author of an important award-winning basket in the last quarter, finished with a negative impact (+/-) with a score of -3, unlike eight other players who were mobilized. The opposite phenomenon to their opponents, with only two players from the bench finishing with minimal positives.

– The Bulls still won against a “big one” from the East. What was their recurring concern last season is not this year. The Bulls now have two wins in two games against the Nets. Same record against the Bucks for them who also beat the Celtics twice out of three, and also beat the Heat twice (out of two). However, they have yet to beat the Cavs once in three games.

– End of the series for the Nets. The New Yorkers will still be in the league for the entire month of December. When they started their good streak, they only occupied 8th place in their conference, with a barely balanced balance. They are now in the Top 3 in the East and a victory tonight would allow them to match their record with number 1, the Celtics.

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Five bulls. Other than a very average Zach LaVine, the other four contributed a lot. Patrick Williams acted like the X factor in Mr. Clean mode. Nikola Vucevic has been an important focus inside, well reinforced below. And the pair of Dosunmu – DeRozan will be decisive in the last act. The former notably signed a key interception midway through the quarter on a pass from Kevin Durant, before going for the dunk. The second made his elegance speak with his “jumpers” on the head of the racket to maintain the gap. Both men scored most of their team’s points in this final quarter.

✅ Kevin Durant. The insanely efficient scoring machine strikes again. “KD” approached the best score of the season (45) by multiplying exploits in attack. Systematically double-teamed when he was in the post, he was also a very important point of attachment to free up a shooter like Seth Curry. Durant and he were the few to fall from distance (11/17) as the rest of the team finished with a dismal… 1/20 from distance.

⛔ Royce O’Neale. He gave himself up on defense, to Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan, but the former Jazz player burdened his team with his inability to take the smallest shot (0/9!). He missed his last two – very open – shots in the last two minutes that would have given his team a close shot. It will be remembered that before this meeting, he posted his best career averages in points and in 3-point success (43%).

THE FOLLOWING

Chicago (17-21) : trip to Philadelphia, Friday.

Brooklyn (25-13) : trip to New Orleans, Friday.