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CHICAGO --- The Chicago Bulls' four-game home stand went on a good start at the United Center on Thursday night.
Doug McDermott sank 5-of-8 triples and finished with 25 points to lead the Bulls past the stubborn Brooklyn Nets, 118-102. The 6-foot-9 small forward, the 11th overall pick in the 2014 draft, went 8-of-16 from the field to help thrust Chicago back in the playoffs picture with a 34-33 record, a slim 1/2 game ahead of the 34-34 Detroit Pistons who sit at 9th place in the Eastern Conference.
"His (McDermott) confidence is at a high level. He's hunting shots. Guys are doing a good job of finding him in transition," Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg told the Chicago Tribune.
As good as McDermott played, he got plenty of help.
Jimmy Butler finished with 22 points and seven assists while Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and Bobby Portis each had 12. All-Star center Pau Gasol missed his third consecutive game (right knee inflammation) but the Bulls still shot 46 of 94 from the field, a high 48.9 percent clip.
After trailing 55-37 at the half, the Nets went on a 37-24 third quarter run to enter the fourth quarter trailing only by five, 79-74. The Nets made another late charge but McDermott's 3 with 3:38 to go pushed Chicago ahead for good, 106-96.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 26 for the Nets, who fell to 14th place in the Eastern Conference with a disappointing 19-49 record. Thaddeus Young added 16 for Brooklyn while Brook Lopez chipped in 13.
Photo: Doug McDermott (R) powered the Bulls past the Nets on Thursday night, scoring 25 points at the United Center.
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