CHICAGO — Coby White delivered an impressive performance by scoring 31 points, propelling the Chicago Bulls to a 116-110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. This game marked White’s seventh consecutive contest with 20 or more points, a personal record for the young player. His contribution was crucial as the Bulls made a comeback to secure their fourth consecutive win, marking it as the best streak for the team this season.
Supporting White’s standout performance, Kevin Huerter added 18 points along with nine rebounds, while Tre Jones also contributed 18 points. Julian Phillips had his best game yet, achieving career-highs with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. As a result, the Bulls are currently securing the 10th position in the Eastern Conference with a 28-38 record, which places them in the final play-in spot.
For the Nets, it was Cam Thomas who took the lead by scoring 24 points and setting a career-high with 10 assists. Nic Claxton followed with 18 points, complemented by a season-best of 14 rebounds. Also contributing to the Nets’ efforts were Tyrese Martin with 19 points and Cam Johnson scoring 16. Despite the strong individual performances, Brooklyn has faced challenges, having lost ten of their last twelve games.
Key observations from the game highlighted the Nets’ recurring issue of failing to maintain a lead. After building a 12-point advantage, they were unable to keep it, similar to their previous game against Cleveland, where they let an 18-point lead diminish. For the Bulls, the absence of Josh Giddey was felt, as he missed the game due to a right ankle sprain incurred against Indiana. The team looks forward to his potential return during an extensive six-game road trip.
A decisive moment in the game occurred when Brooklyn led 92-80 late in the third quarter, only to be met with a powerful 17-3 run from the Bulls. As the Nets momentarily regained a 101-99 lead with four-and-a-half minutes left, Chicago unleashed an eight-point streak. This momentum included a significant reverse layup by Jones that pushed the Bulls’ lead to six points, with just under three minutes left on the clock.
Coby White’s recent form has been stellar, with him averaging 28.6 points in the last seven games, bringing substantial momentum to the Bulls as they move forward in the season.
Looking ahead, the Nets are set to host Boston on Saturday, while the Bulls will begin a challenging, season-high six-game road trip, starting in Houston this weekend.
