Michael Porter Jr. delivered a clutch go-ahead layup with 5.4 seconds remaining to lift the Brooklyn Nets over the Chicago Bulls 112-109 at Barclays Center on Friday, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Porter finished with 26 points, while Noah Clowney added 23 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Nets’ balanced attack. Day’Ron Sharpe contributed 14 points, and rookie Danny Wolf chipped in 13 as Brooklyn weathered a furious fourth-quarter rally from Chicago.
The Bulls, led by Nikola Vucevic’s 19 points and Ayo Dosunmu’s 18, erased a 20-point deficit in the final period and even took a 109-108 lead with 11.4 seconds left, forcing a dramatic finish.
Brooklyn built its lead in the first half with a 15-0 second-quarter run that gave them a 17-point halftime advantage, their second-largest of the season. Cam Thomas helped stretch the gap with timely three-pointers, keeping the Nets ahead despite Chicago’s late surge.
Clowney’s dominance in the paint was critical during the second-quarter run, scoring seven straight points with a pair of three-point plays. Porter’s mid-range and perimeter scoring helped maintain momentum before his decisive basket in the final seconds.
The Nets’ defensive effort down the stretch prevented Chicago from converting a final possession, with Drake Powell stealing a sideline inbounds pass, and Clowney sinking two free throws to seal the win.
Brooklyn shot 43% from the field and hit 47% from three-point range, while limiting turnovers to 14 compared with 15 for the Bulls. Chicago struggled to regain efficiency in the fourth quarter, managing just seven points in the final three minutes before the decisive plays.
The victory lifts Brooklyn to 12-27, keeping faint playoff hopes alive, while Chicago falls to 19-22. The two teams meet again Sunday in Chicago for the second half of their home-and-home series.
