Michael Porter, Jr. explodes for 33 points as Noah Clowney sparks a second-half surge, propelling the Brooklyn Nets to their first winning streak of 2025. The Nets went into the United Center in Chicago and defeated the short-handed Bulls. The game was not as close as the final score indicated.
Don't look now, but the Brooklyn Nets are on a winning streak.
It is no coincidence that the return of Michael Porter, Jr. coincides with said streak, but MPJ eclipsed the 30-point mark for the second game in a row as the Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls 113-103 at the United Center.
Porter had 33 points and 10 rebounds as the Nets took home the victory.
Noah Clowney scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half, while Nic Claxton chimed in with 14 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
"To be honest, my looks in the first half were better, but I just didn't make them. I don't know if they planned on just letting me shoot, or if it was a miscommunication, but it is rare I am going to miss the whole night, I am going to make some of them."
Porter scored 35 points, a season-high, Monday night at the Barclays Center in the win over the Charlotte Hornets. Wednesday against the Bulls, Porter drilled 4-of-5 triples in the second half and he and Clowney blew the game open in the fourth quarter after Chicago cut the Nets lead to five points.
"It was good, coming off a win, we weren't content, we got another win," Porter said. "I feel like we are getting better, everyone. We are playing off of each other well. Noah Clowney has really improved our team, just being out there."
For the Bulls (9-12), the loss was their fifth in a row. Josh Giddey scored 28 points and had 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his fifth triple-double this season. Nikola Vucevic finished the game with a double-double for the Bulls as he scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Bulls were short handed as they had seven players on the injured list, none more important than rookie Noa Essengue, the 12th pick of the draft who will have season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.
Brooklyn has improved its play of late and has been a fun team to watch. The rookies, Egor Demin, Ben Saraf, Clowney and Danny Wolf have been playing well. Porter and Nic Claxton have been as good as advertised and they are all moving the ball well.
Dec 3, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) dribbles against Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images"Ben came in and contributed, Egor played well tonight, Danny is great, all these rookies bring something unique to the table," Porter said. "I think we are just getting started. The more experience they get the better we will be."
Another rookie, who has been shooting the lights out is Clowney. He was 6-of-11 from the land of three and added seven boards.
"We were guarding in the first half. We gave up 44 points. We had halves where we have given up 70, that was the main thing for us in the first half, we knew what we wanted to do, and we did it," Clowney said. "Last year they had 43 in transition against us and we knew they wanted to play fast and get the easy ones and we took that away."
The Nets improve to 5-16 on the season. They will look to extend their winning-streak to three games when they play host to the Utah Jazz Thursday night at the Barclays Center.