On his birthday, Allen Crabbe’s career night helps Brooklyn sweep the Chicago Bulls out of the Barclays Center and win their third straight game.
- Brooklyn Nets 114 (28-53)
- Chicago Bulls 105 (27-54)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Allen Crabbe went ballistic on his 26th birthday, dropping a career-high 41 points—20 in the first quarter—as the Brooklyn Nets took down the Chicago Bulls for the team’s first three-game winning streak of the season.
The Nets starting five were D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, Crabbe, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Jarrett Allen.
Before the team’s final home game of the season, forward DeMarre Carroll addressed the Barclays Center crowd with thankful words on Fan Appreciation Night.
.@DeMarreCarroll1 with some words for the #Nets family! ? pic.twitter.com/wM05rAvrMu
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 9, 2018
The Nets and Bulls pushed the tempo in the first quarter, and while Chicago had some good looks at the basket, the Bulls had no answer for Crabbe, who drained five three-pointers in the opening period.
It didn't take long for Crabbe to start cooking ? pic.twitter.com/R0Y0VfoJCx
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
At the end of the first quarter, the Nets held a three-point lead, 29-26.
Up three after one pic.twitter.com/W2zp2pdOWV
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
The Nets continued their hot shooting in the second quarter.
Russell led the offensive ball movement which helped spread the floor. Russell also displayed some fancy passes leading to scoring drives to wow the Barclays crowd.
Don't blink you might miss it pic.twitter.com/S243yOWuqB
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
Dinwiddie started to heat up, connecting on a series of drives and mid-range shots. Crabbe continued his hot three-point shooting, finishing the half with 29 points—including six threes—in just 15 minutes. The Nets held a 62-55 lead.
Stats at the half ?@SDinwiddie_25 15 pts / 2 ast / 2 reb@Dloading 9 pts / 6 ast / 3 reb pic.twitter.com/ylX8YRMALO
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
Chicago came out running early in the third quarter, making it a one-possession game. But the Nets were able to slow the tempo and focus on ball movement. Allen delivered an electrifying slam that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
.@_bigjayy_ with a FRO-DOWN THROW-DOWN pic.twitter.com/EhXDM9YJMz
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
Crabbe cracked the 30-point mark halfway through the third quarter, joining Russell and Dinwiddie as the only Nets to drop 30 in a game this season. He sat with a career-high 37 points on 11-of-13 shooting at the end of the quarter, with the Nets leading 86-83.
Let's finish strong, #NetsNation pic.twitter.com/I5rJDlZB1n
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
Brooklyn’s tight man-to-man defense frustrated the Bulls throughout, especially in the fourth quarter. As the Nets pulled away for the victory, “Brooklyn” chants rained down from the stands.
Russell finished the game with 21 points and 11 assists, while Dinwiddie chipped in 20 points of his own. Former Net guard Sean Kilpatrick led the Bulls with 16 points in a losing effort.
Victory stats ??? pic.twitter.com/8E4cJWvCaR
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 10, 2018
After the game, the Nets gave their game-worn jerseys to some of the young fans in attendance.
The Nets will look to end their season on a four-game winning streak against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, April 11.
