Dinwiddie, Nets upend Bulls
NEW YORK -- Spencer Dinwiddie hit the tiebreaking free throws with 13.5 seconds remaining as the Brooklyn Nets rallied down the stretch for a 107-106 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
Dinwiddie joined rookie Caris LeVert by scoring 19 points to lead the Nets. The reserve guard hit 6 of 9 shots, including a 3-pointer with 1:23 remaining that tied it at 101-101 and made six free throws.
Dinwiddie's tiebreaking free throws occurred after Jimmy Butler hit a 22-footer to forge a 103-103 tie with 32 seconds left. After Dinwiddie's first set of late free throws, Butler missed a 21-footer with five seconds left and Dinwiddie grabbed the rebound.
Dinwiddie hit two more free throws with two seconds remaining to make it a four-point game and Butler hit a 3-pointer with 1.4 seconds left.
Butler led all scorers with 33 points for the Bulls, who were extremely sluggish in the first half and fell behind by 15. Chicago entered the day tied with Indiana for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who trailed by eight when Butler returned in the fourth quarter.
Dwyane Wade retuned from missing 11 games with a fractured right wrist and contributed 14 points in 24 minutes. Robin Lopez added 16 and Jerian Grant contributed 15 for the Bulls, who did not get their first lead until midway through the third and blew a nine-point advantage.
Brook Lopez, who needed 35 points to pass Buck Williams on the Nets' all-time scoring list, finished with 13 while Jeremy Lin added 12.
NOTES: Chicago PG Rajon Rondo (right wrist sprain) missed his second straight game. Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said Rondo is feeling slightly better but there is still a lot of stiffness. Rondo will get treatment Sunday but Hoiberg is not sure if he can return Monday against Orlando. ... Asked if PG Jeremy Lin met expectations this season when he missed significant time with two left hamstring injuries, coach Kenny Atkinson said: "It's what do they call it in school, a partial grade where you only come to 20 percent of the classes." ... Saturday was the 16th meeting between twin brothers Brook and Robin Lopez. While Brook has only been on the Nets, Robin has faced his brother with five teams (Chicago, New York, Portland, Phoenix and New Orleans).