Nets at Bulls
The Brooklyn Nets will try to stay perfect in the new year when they carry a two-game winning streak into a matchup with the host Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon. The Nets opened a three-game road trip with a 109-100 win at Memphis in Friday, avenging a double-overtime loss earlier in the season and winning for the 11th time in their last 14 games overall.
"It was great to get a win on the start the road trip: Just got to keep going," guard D'Angelo Russell told reporters. "We're winning. I haven't won a lot in this league, so for me to get that type of success I'm going to stick with it." Russell recorded at least 22 points and 10 assists in each of his last two games and five others scored in double figures at Memphis as Brooklyn improved to 9-10 on the road. The Bulls have dropped three in a row, including the first two of their three-game homestand. Zach LaVine scored 31 points but Chicago fell 119-116 in overtime to Indiana on Friday, sinking to 5-15 at home.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, YES (Brooklyn), NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE NETS (19-21): As the wins pile up, Brooklyn is beginning to establish an identity, and Friday's hard-fought victory over a physical team desperate for a win displayed a new-found toughness. "Now we're catching our groove, playing more physical," veteran forward DeMarre Carroll told reporters. "Last year we weren't that physical, just got beat on the boards. Now we've got more guys that don't mind getting hit." Carroll finished with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and is averaging 16.8 while making 14-of-28 3-pointers over his last five games.
ABOUT THE BULLS (10-29): Kris Dunn complemented LaVine's big game with 16 points and a career-high 17 assists in Friday's loss while Lauri Markkanen had 29 points, as Chicago's three big building blocks put forth a promising effort. "Everybody had it going," Dunn told reporters. "There have been multiple games where [the core three] kind of had it, but this was one of those games where all three played at a high level. It's just tough that we couldn't come up with the win." LaVine was injured and Markkanen struggled to eight points in last month's 96-93 loss to the Nets, but Dunn had a season high-tying 24 points.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls PF Jabari Parker scored four points in 14 minutes Friday after sitting out the previous nine games.
2. Nets C Jarrett Allen has two straight double-doubles and recorded exactly two blocked shots in four consecutive contests.
3. Brooklyn has won four straight meetings.