The Nets' five-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday at the hands of the only team that had a longer streak than they did. The Bulls have the best defense in the league, and they proved it, holding down the Nets for a 84-73 victory at the Prudential Center.
The Nets led early, but the Bulls took control with a 10-0 run spanning the first and second quarters, and they held the Nets to just 30 points over the second and third. The Nets climbed back in the fourth to tie the game with just under six minutes to go, but the Bulls answered with a 7-0 run and a Kyle Korver three with 1:16 left was the dagger.
The Nets shot just 35 percent from the field and just 3-for-19 from 3-point range. Brook Lopez led all scorers with 22 points, Kris Humphries recorded another double-double and Sasha Vujacic added 13 points off the bench. But Deron Williams (1-for-12), Anthony Morrow, Sundiata Gaines and Jordan Farmar combined to shoot just 4-for-31. Derrick Rose and Luol Deng combined for 40 points for the Bulls.
Humphries' double-double (13 and 16) was his eighth straight, 24th overall. It was also his seventh straight with at least 15 rebounds. He is now averaging 9.7 points and 10.1 rebounds for the season.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Block of the Night - Kris Humphries (Video) - NBA.com
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Play of the Day: Derrick Rose (Video) - NBA.com
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Bulls-Nets notebook - Jake Appleman - NBA.com
- Rose helps Bulls beat Nets for eighth straight win - AP
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Like the Devils, the Nets Are Surging - Dave Caldwell - New York Times
- Nets fall to Bulls as Rose wins battle with Williams - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Nets' James returns to lineup after missing three games for concussion - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Derrick Rose is blooming quicker than expected in NBA - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
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Rose, Thibodeau perfect match for surging Bulls - Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo! Sports
- Rose, Bulls end Nets' streak at 5 - Fred Kerber - New York Post
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Bad wrist hurts Deron's shooting - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Rose shows Nets and Williams why he is leading candidate for NBA MVP - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Nets' five-game win streak snapped by the Bulls - Al Iannazzone - The Record
- Nets notes: No more Deron Williams re-signing talk - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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Nets run out luck, win streak ends against Bulls - Al Iannazzone - The Nets Insider
- Post-Game Plus (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- From the Booth (Video) - Ryan Ruocco & Mike Fratello - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
- Brook Lopez Interview (Video) - Gordon Damer - YES Network
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Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - Gordon Damer - YES Network
- Rapid Reaction: Bulls 84, Nets 73 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- D-Rose outplays D-Will as Bulls defeat Nets - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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NETS Defend Bulls, Can't Get Shots to Go - New Jersey Nets
- Rapid Reaction: Bulls 84, Nets 73 - Nick Friedell - ESPN Chicago
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Lock-down D propels Bulls - Nick Friedell - ESPN Chicago
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Asik's big nights becoming more common - Nick Friedell - ESPN Chicago
- MVP chants for Derrick Rose coming from all sides now - K.C. Johnson - Chicago Tribune
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Derrick Rose pushes Bulls past New Jersey Nets, to 8th straight win - Herb Gould - Chicago Sun-Times
- Big O: Asik powers Bulls to eighth-straight win - Aggrey Sam - CSN Chicago
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Bulls get a rare win in New Jersey - Sam Smith - Chicago Bulls