Kyrie Irving has another breakout night, scores 54 points in 32 minutes

Make that two-in-a-row.

After defeating the Detroit Pistons 125-115 on Wednesday night, the Brooklyn Nets continued its win streak and defeated the Chicago Bulls 133-118. With the win, the Nets improved to 21-26, while the Bulls fell to 19-32 on the season with the loss.

By the Numbers

Brooklyn shot a season-high .625 (50-of-80) from the field. The Nets’ .625 field goal percentage marked the fifth-highest field goal percentage in a game in franchise history and their best field goal percentage in a game since shooting .640 almost three years ago on April 4, 2017, at Philadelphia.

The Nets also shot .484 (15-of-31) from 3-point range against the Pistons, which marked their second-best 3-point field goal percentage in a game this season. Meanwhile, the Bulls shot 15-of-31 from behind the arc.

At the free-throw line, the Bulls bested the Nets with hitting 22 of its 26 free throw attempts, while the Nets were successful at the stripe, 18 of its 25 attempts.

Brooklyn also led Chicago 73-57 at halftime, with Brooklyn’s 73 points marking a season-high for a first-half. Going into the fourth quarter, the Nets led the Bulls 103-96.

Coach Speak: Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson on the team’s high field goal percentage tonight

“I thought we got out in transition and got a lot of easy buckets, responded Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson. “They (Chicago) are the sixth-best defense in the league. They do a phenomenal job, but I think our goal was to get it up the floor before they could get that defense set. They still turned us over 20 times. Obviously, Kyrie (Irving) – vintage performance. I can’t imagine a more efficient game on only 23 shots. Really, really impressive. And then I think Spencer (Dinwiddie) was right behind him, super-efficient. But give Jarrett Allen and DJ (DeAndre Jordan) and our fives screening for them. We did a good job – 31 assists I think—getting it out, moving it. But having those two guys play at a high level like that, that bodes well for us in the future.”

The Brooklyn Nets’ Leading Scorers

In a game where the Chicago Bulls never led, the Brooklyn Nets saw Kyrie Irving take over the game and led the Nets with 54 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 32 minutes. Spencer Dinwiddie came off the bench and scored 20 points and seven assists in 30 minutes; Taurean Prince added 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists; Jarrett Allen contributed 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists, and Garrett Temple chipped in 11 points.

The Chicago Bulls Leading Scorers

For the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine led Chicago’s scorers with 22 points and eight assists in 36 minutes; Luke Kornet tallied 19 points and four rebounds in 28 minutes; Tomas Satoransky added 15 points, eight assists, and four rebounds in 31 minutes; Thaddeus Young contributed 14 points and four assists in 31 minutes; Shaquille Harrison recorded 12 points off the bench, and; Coby White chipped in 11 points in 25 minutes also off the bench.

“I thought we battled,” Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen said about the way his team played against the Brooklyn Nets. “We hung in there. I think we got it within six points, and we were right there. We couldn’t make enough plays there in that moment to take the lead. But I thought we battled. I thought a lot of guys competed. I liked our effort and I liked our focus. I thought we were trying.”

What’s Next for the Chicago Bulls and the Brooklyn Nets?

The Chicago Bulls will head to Toronto to face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, February 2, at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets will travel to Washington, DC to play the Washington Wizards later today, Saturday, February 1, 2020, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Nets will then travel home to Brooklyn to host the Phoenix Suns on Monday, February 3, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., at the Barclays Center.