NEW YORK — Cam Thomas made a significant impact in the game, scoring 10 of his game-high 32 points during the crucial fourth quarter, helping the Brooklyn Nets secure a 120-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Thomas’s scoring prowess was on full display as he rattled off eight consecutive points, pushing the Nets ahead to a commanding 118-109 lead with just 1:52 left on the clock.
In addition to Thomas’s impressive performance, Cam Johnson contributed 14 points as Brooklyn celebrated its second consecutive victory. Nic Claxton and Keon Johnson also played pivotal roles, both adding 12 points, while Ben Simmons contributed eight points alongside an impactful stat line of 11 assists and eight rebounds.
On the Bulls’ side, Nikola Vucevic led the charge with 28 points, boasting an impressive shooting percentage of 10-of-11, and secured 11 rebounds. Zach LaVine and Coby White both chipped in with 21 points, with White showcasing his shooting skills by hitting 5 out of 9 attempts from beyond the arc.
In the game’s dynamics, the Bulls found themselves trailing by 10 points in the third quarter with 9:35 left before mounting an impressive comeback. They outscored the Nets 30-17, with Vucevic contributing 13 points during this stretch.
Notably, Thomas entered the matchup leading the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring with an average of 12.2 points, which he certainly lived up to.
A turning point in the game occurred when the Nets led by just one point with 4:03 remaining. Thomas took charge, outscoring the Bulls 10-2 to elevate the lead to 118-109. He began with a couple of free throws, responded to LaVine’s layup with one of his own, and then drained a 3-pointer after Ayo Dosunmu’s miss. The Bulls struggled in their next possessions, missing three consecutive shots, while Thomas closed the game with another successful 3-pointer.
A significant statistic from the game highlighted Vucevic’s efficiency, as he started perfectly, hitting his first 10 shots before missing a 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Nets are set to host the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, while the Bulls will return to their home court to face the Utah Jazz on Monday night.