Cam Thomas scored 32 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to propel the Brooklyn Nets (3-3) to a 120-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls (3-3) on Friday night. With the game close in the final minutes, Thomas scored eight consecutive points, extending Brooklyn’s lead to 118-109 with less than two minutes remaining.
The Nets’ offense saw balanced contributions, with Cam Johnson adding 14 points, while Nic Claxton and Keon Johnson both contributed 12 off the bench. Ben Simmons filled the stat sheet, finishing with eight points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds, helping Brooklyn secure its second straight win.
Nikola Vucevic led the scoring for Chicago with 28 points on 10-for-11 shooting and added 11 rebounds, but his strong performance couldn’t close the gap in the final quarter. Zach LaVine and Coby White each scored 21 points for the Bulls, with White hitting five of his nine three-point attempts.
Chicago briefly surged in the third quarter, cutting a double-digit deficit and outscoring Brooklyn 30-17, largely driven by Vucevic’s 13 points during the stretch. However, the Nets regained control, and Thomas’ scoring in the fourth quarter sealed the win.
The Bulls’ offense, though solid in spurts, faced challenges down the stretch, as they struggled to hit key shots to stay within reach. Vucevic flirted with perfection for much of the night, connecting on his first 10 field goal attempts before missing a three-pointer in the fourth.
The Nets bench provided a boost in key moments, as Nic Claxton’s inside presence and Keon Johnson’s perimeter shooting helped maintain Brooklyn’s lead when starters rested. Simmons continued his recent streak of strong performances, recording double-digit assists and playing effective defense against Chicago’s guards.
For the Bulls, Ayo Dosunmu contributed 10 points off the bench but couldn’t provide enough offensive support to match Brooklyn’s firepower in the closing minutes. Chicago’s bench rotation, lacking key players like Lonzo Ball due to injury, couldn’t maintain the defensive pressure needed to contain Thomas.
