#SpencerDinwiddie Scores 25 Points in #Nets' 116-105 Win

Spencer Dinwiddie Scores 25 Points in Nets' 116-105 Win

Spencer Dinwiddie scored a team-high 25 points as the Nets made it a successful return for him after he was acquired from Dallas on Monday. He helped lead Brooklyn to a 116-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls Thursday night in Brooklyn.

The Nets jumped out to a big first-quarter lead thanks to Joe Harris' ridiculous shooting performance, then hung on down the stretch to beat the Bulls for the first time since trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving before Thursday's trade deadline.

Royce O'Neale

Royce O’Neale is one of the most underrated players in the NBA. He has a high shooting percentage, a low turnover rate and an excellent defender who can get a lot of his points from three-pointers. He’s also a good athlete and can stretch the floor. He’s got a great work ethic and can be counted on to play an important role for the Jazz.

On Thursday, the Utah Jazz traded O’Neale to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick. The move was a major blow for the Jazz, who have been linked to a big-money deal with Toronto’s Gorgui Dieng since the offseason.

With O’Neale’s departure, the Nets have a new starting point guard for the first time this season. Royce Dinwiddie has 25 in Brooklyn return and is in line to take over the role if the Nets don’t ship him elsewhere by Thursday’s trade deadline.

The Nets were shorthanded on defense with Nic Claxton missing due to injury, but they had the best defensive performance of their young team’s season. They held the Bulls to just 11 points in the first quarter and defended their home court well throughout the game.

Brooklyn shot 17 of 44 from three-point range, led by Joe Harris who scored 18 points on six made 3-pointers. He rescued the Brooklyn offense from the dreaded first-quarter slack-jawedness.

He had two three-pointers in the first quarter, a long range jumper and a running trey in transition. He was a threat in the paint as well, finishing with four rebounds and five assists. He’s the kind of player that can help a team win by taking over a game and helping his teammates do the same.

Brooklyn is back to winning ways, as they beat the Bulls 116-105 on Friday night. The win was a bit of a letdown for the team after a strong start, but it’s still a solid result against a strong opponent in Chicago. The Bulls were able to battle back in the fourth, but fell apart in the final quarter.

Joe Harris

The Brooklyn Nets got a good dose of their veteran mainstays in Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris, who both came into the game on a hot streak. Dinwiddie had 25 points in his first game since he was traded a year and a half ago, while Harris added 18 off the bench.

In the end, Dinwiddie’s second-quarter performance was enough to lift Brooklyn past the Bulls. He scored eight straight points, including a trademark stepback three with the shot clock expiring, to give his team a 78-72 lead at the end of the quarter. He finished the quarter with a pair of free throws and was perfect from the stripe for a game-high 19 points.

Meanwhile, Harris, who’s had a slow start to the season, came off the bench to shoot 6-of-9 from three for a game-high 18 points in his second Nets appearance. He was also a big part of the offense in the first half, combining for six of the Nets’ 15 3-pointers, tying a season high for the most made off the bench in any half this season.

After shooting just 4-of-19 from beyond the arc in his first four games, Harris has been on fire in February, shooting 14-of-27 from three over five games. He’s also been averaging nearly 20 minutes per game in his last seven, making him an integral member of the Nets’ starting lineup.

With Kevin Durant out due to a hamstring injury and James Harden ruled out after neck soreness, the Nets leaned heavily on Dinwiddie, Harris and Thomas to deliver a 116-105 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The win puts the Nets back on track in the NBA standings, sitting fifth with 27 wins and 11 games over.500 in the last 27 games.

The Nets have now won seven of their last eight games, a run which is matched only by the Utah Jazz on the ladder. The resurgent Jazz are currently on top of the Western Conference with a 31-11 record, although they’ve lost five of their last 10 matches.

Despite losing two of their 'Big Three' at the trade deadline, the Nets remain hopeful they can make it out of the Western Conference playoffs and into the Eastern Conference finals, with coach Steve Nash pointing to the roster as being in a better position than when the stars were acquired. With young talent and draft picks, the Nets are built to go further than they have in recent years.

Ben Simmons

Brooklyn rolled in their first game without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, winning 116-105 against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on Thursday night. The Nets played with a clear lack of worry, freed of the drama of star holdouts and major roster turnover.

After a slow start, the Nets turned it on late in the second quarter and held Chicago to just 8 of 24 three-point attempts in the frame. Brooklyn then sparked from the outside with Joe Harris' perfect 6-of-6 performance from deep, helping the Nets break open a close game in the second half that the Bulls were unable to overcome.

Then the third quarter got away from the Nets and LaVine and the Bulls roared back, holding Brooklyn to just 6 of 14 shooting in the period and allowing Chicago to tie the game at 76-all. That was all that the Bulls could manage against a loaded Nets defense, which saw Dinwiddie, Royce O'Neale, Ben Simmons and Dorian Finney-Smith switch around along the perimeter seamlessly in a way that forced Chicago into a subzero 19.2% shooting night from deep on just 25 threes.

When the game was over, Dinwiddie had 25 points on 8 of 17 shots to lead the Nets. He also had six assists and a career-high four steals in 39 minutes of play.

While it was a big win for the Nets, it wasn't without some controversy. Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns brawled on the court in the third quarter and were both ejected. It was the first time a team has been ejected for a fight this season and the second in five games between the teams.

As a result, the game was delayed by eight minutes and eventually stopped as league officials reviewed footage from the brawl. Embiid was assessed two technicals and Towns was given a flagrant foul, both of which ruled him out for the rest of the game.

It was a tough loss for the 76ers, who had led most of the way and appeared to be on the verge of forcing overtime. The loss dropped the 76ers to 3-0 and the team's three-game winning streak was ended, leaving Philadelphia a few games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the Eastern Conference.

Dorian Finney-Smith

Dorian Finney-Smith made his debut in a Brooklyn uniform for the first time since December 27, 2020, in his team's 116-105 win over Chicago. He came off the bench in a game that also featured the return of Spencer Dinwiddie, who arrived in the Irving trade.

Finney-Smith finished with nine points and nine rebounds, while Spencer Dinwiddie added 25 points in his Nets debut. The two newcomers paired up with Cam Thomas, Royce O'Neale and Day'Ron Sharpe to lead the Nets to their sixth victory in 15 games after the deadline deals.

The Nets dominated the boards, outrebounding the Bulls 49-46, while Brooklyn's offense was able to build a lead that was too big to overcome in the fourth quarter. The teams matched each other on field goal attempts, and the game was close until Dinwiddie drained a stepback three with less than eight minutes left for a 104-92 advantage.

After the Nets took a 53-50 lead at halftime, the Bulls opened the third quarter with a 16-2 run to pull within five points. A pair of 3-pointers by LaVine gave the Bulls a 70-62 edge with 7:50 to go, but the Nets fought back.

The Bulls used an 8-2 run to cut the lead to 71-69 with 9:10 to go, but Brooklyn held Chicago scoreless over the next 6:55 and pulled ahead 83-77 on Harris' first triple of the night. The Nets led 86-82 with 5:08 to go, but a LaVine three-pointer with 3.9 seconds to go trimmed the Bulls' lead to 105-100.

DeRozan, who missed Tuesday's game with right hip soreness, returned to the lineup for the Bulls. He scored 19 points but shot 2-of-11 from 3-point range, and Chicago's shooting struggles continued in the final quarter.

The Bulls were one of just two NBA teams that did not make a midseason trade before Thursday's deadline, which showed coach Arturas Karnisovas that they are content with their roster. Chicago got 38 points from Zach LaVine and 17 from DeRozan, while Yuta Watanabe added 14 off the bench. The Bulls had their five-game winning streak ended by the Nets, who were playing for the first time since trading Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren to Phoenix.

How Did Zach LaVine Win the Dunk Contest 2023?

In case you missed it, Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine made some noise during the All-Star break when he rose for a 360-dunk in the All-Star Game. Despite being on injured reserve this season, he hasn’t let his knee issues get him down.

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is having the best season of his career right now. The point differential he’s created for a 32-13 Nuggets team is the third-best in the league.

1. March 10, 1995

Zach LaVine is a shooting guard who plays for the Chicago Bulls. He was born on March 10, 1995 in Washington and grew up as a child watching Michael Jordan's Space Jam movie, which he later paid tribute to in his first NBA Dunk Contest.

He was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014 and played three seasons with them before he was traded to the Bulls in 2021. He is known for his explosive athleticism and his ability to dunk. He has been a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion and is one of the best dunkers in history.

In 2022, he became the second player in league history to hit five consecutive dunks in a game when he scored 45 points (14-19 FG, 3-4 FT), 13 rebounds and 6 assists in a win over the Boston Celtics. He then set the record for most dunks in a single game when he dunked seven times in a home loss against the New York Knicks.

While his career has been hampered by injuries, he still managed to average 25.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in the 2018-19 season. He has also made a number of important contributions on the court with his leadership, defense and playmaking skills.

As a teenager, he was the starting point guard at Bothell High School and helped lead the school to a state championship in 2012. He committed to UCLA in June 2012 and played there for a year before being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA Draft.

The young dunkster proved to be an immediate star in the NBA and has since become a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion. He is considered one of the most lethal dunkpers in the league and is a threat in any game.

After a strong showing in the 2020 Olympics, he was selected to join Team USA for the upcoming summer of 2021. He was a valuable sixth man and started one game as the United States defeated Japan in the gold medal game to earn its first ever Olympic title in men's basketball.

2. March 11, 2021

In the NBA, it is a common practice for players to participate in All-Star weekend and one of the most popular events of the weekend is the dunk contest. The event is not only fun for fans but also provides a great opportunity to watch some of the most talented dunkers in the NBA.

In 2021, Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine earned a spot in the All-Star game after being snubbed for two seasons. He was able to earn the honor by winning back-to-back titles in the dunk competition and became a household name among fans around the world.

The first time LaVine took part in the dunk contest, it was in 2015 and he blew everyone away with his performance. He was a 19-year-old rookie and became the youngest player in history to win the dunk contest at that age. He won the dunk contest again in 2016, becoming the second-youngest player to win the event.

Since then, LaVine has become a fan favorite and has consistently impressed the basketball world. He has been a top-five scorer in the league for a number of years and is known for his powerful dunks. He is often compared to Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant.

While LaVine has not been a consistent All-Star since his rookie year, he has continued to grow and become a more important contributor on the court. He has been averaging a career-high in points per game this season and is regarded as the best shooting guard in the league.

He has also been able to contribute on the defensive end of the court as well. He has been a key part of the team’s success this season and has helped them improve their record to a respectable 17-18.

It has been a while since we last saw a young dunk champion. But when the NBA announced that this year’s dunk contest would take place on March 11, we were excited to see what new names would be added to the list of champions.

This year’s dunk contest has a lot of star power with Luke Kennard (Clippers), CJ McCollum (Blazers), Patty Mills (Nets), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), Fred VanVleet (Raptors) and Trae Young (Hawks) all taking part. Of course, there are always a few high flyers who come out on top every year and this year’s is no exception.

3. March 10, 2022

Zach lavine was born on March 10, 1995 and is currently a shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls. He is known for his powerful dunks and has won the dunk contest twice. He is also a two-time NBA All-Star and a member of the United States Olympic team in 2021.

Although he hasn't won the three-point contest since his sophomore year, he still holds the dream of becoming the first player in the NBA to win both. Despite his recent struggles, however, he was able to participate in this year's All-Star weekend and put on a show for his fans.

The All-Star weekend has become a staple in his calendar, as he loves the opportunity to promote his brand and build on the business side of his career. He has been partnering with various brands for activations during the trip, like an event for Klarna, a global retail bank and payments and shopping service.

He said that he has a good relationship with these brands and feels they have a positive impact on his game. He also enjoys the chance to interact with the fans and meet people.

In the past, the All-Star weekend has featured a number of branded activations for players and their teams. During this year's All-Star weekend, LaVine was part of an ad for Mountain Dew, which featured him bouncing around Cleveland for various branded events.

On the court, he made his presence felt with several dunks throughout the game. His most notable dunk was a btween-the-legs slam, which earned him 47 points.

As a result, he won the All-Star weekend's dunk contest for a second time. The dunk contest was held during All-Star Saturday Night, which was a part of the NBA All-Star weekend that included the Skills Challenge and 3-Point Contest.

While the dunk contest is a fun event to watch, it's important to note that it's not always as high-flying and exciting as it used to be. In fact, some NBA players are dismayed by the current state of the dunk contest. One of these players is Utah Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell, who shared his opinion on Twitter. He pointed out that the 2022 NBA Slam Dunk contest did not live up to the hype and excitement that it usually evokes.

4. March 11, 2023

The Chicago Bulls star and two-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine has been a huge part of the team’s success this season. He’s a force in the paint, scoring 16.5 points per game on 58.8 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds per game in 29.9 minutes.

A native of Seattle, LaVine began playing basketball at age five and was quickly recognized as a star talent. He played high school ball in Bothell, Washington and earned All-Metro and All-State honors his senior year.

He was also named the Associated Press Washington Player of the Year and a Washington Mr. Basketball winner in 2013. Despite being a small player, LaVine still managed to develop a strong ball-handling game and grew into a 6-3 guard by his junior year of high school.

After graduating from Bothell, LaVine enrolled at UCLA. During his only season at the university, he was a part of the Pac-12 All-Freshman team. He then declared for the 2014 NBA Draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility to be drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

At the time of his drafting, LaVine had a reputation for being one of the most powerful dunkers in the league. His dunks drew comparisons to those of Russell Westbrook, who was also picked in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft.

The Timberwolves traded LaVine to the Chicago Bulls in June 2017 for Kris Dunn, Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton rights. He became a key member of the Bulls roster, playing alongside Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan. He has won the Slam Dunk Contest twice and was named an NBA All-Star in both 2020 and 2021.

As a child, LaVine watched the movie Space Jam and developed a passion for basketball after seeing Michael Jordan perform his signature moves on the court. He was also influenced by Kobe Bryant’s style of play, and he has continued to emulate these styles throughout his career.

During the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend, LaVine won the Slam Dunk Contest for the second time. He became the youngest champion since an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant won in 1997.

Bulls' Zach LaVine Unbothered by Latest Unexpected Trade Rumors

There’s been a lot of talk that Bulls’ star Zach LaVine could be traded at the deadline, but he doesn’t seem to have any concerns about that.

The team is 11-18 this season, and there’s been a lot of tension within the locker room, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Darnell Mayberry.

1. LaVine isn’t worried about being traded

Chicago Bulls star guard Zach LaVine is unbothered by the latest unexpected trade rumors. Just days ago, LaVine said he was feeling good and not dealing with any pain in his left knee. Now, the team has ruled him out for the opener against the Miami Heat on Friday.

A rumor has surfaced that the Brooklyn Nets could be interested in shipping LaVine to them for their 2027 and 2029 first-round picks, along with Russell Westbrook’s $47 million expiring deal. ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks ran this idea through The Lowe Post podcast, but it doesn’t seem to have any legs in reality.

The premise behind this trade is that the Bulls would give up Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris, and veteran guard Patty Mills in exchange for LaVine and their two first-round picks. However, LaVine’s salary is pretty high, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see some additional players in a package like this.

While the idea of trading LaVine to the Lakers seems like a pretty good one, the reality is that it wouldn’t be the right move for the Bulls.

In order to get a star player, you need to give up at least a piece of the team’s future, and that’s not what LaVine provides. He’s a score-first two guard, but doesn’t do much else outside of scoring. That doesn’t make him a fit with RJ Barrett or Quentin Grimes, and it also wouldn’t be the best fit for Westbrook.

There are other rumors floating around that New York might be willing to move LaVine and his contract for a potential franchise-alterer, but the idea of trading LaVine so soon after signing his max deal isn’t a good one.

If the Knicks are going to move for a star, they need to do it in an effort to compete for a title, and not just for another big contract. That’s why we saw them try to get Donovan Mitchell, and ultimately fail.

The Knicks need to look to get more value in a deal for a star, and that’s why they might be willing to consider a move for LaVine. But the fact that he’s been a little bit underperforming at the start of this season, and his discontent with his teammates, is what’s keeping them from getting into serious discussions.

2. He’s not worried about being benched

In any NBA season there are ebbs and flows. Opponents strength, injuries and rest all play a role in whether the team wins or loses. But the Bulls haven’t been able to avoid being under a lot of pressure lately and that can have an impact on players like Zach LaVine.

In Friday’s 108-107 loss to the Orlando Magic, coach Billy Donovan benched LaVine for the game’s final three minutes because of his dismal shooting performance. The two-time All-Star went 1-for-14 from the field and was left watching as the Bulls failed to close out a third consecutive loss at home.

But it wasn’t just LaVine’s dismal shooting performance that led to his benching; the Bulls were also minus-19 with him on the court, the worst for any player in their lineup. That’s a troubling trend for a team that signed a $215 million maximum-contract extension over the summer to keep him around long term, and it’s not something to be brushed off easily.

Asked about Donovan’s decision after the loss, LaVine said he didn’t agree with it but that he understood the coach’s reasoning for it. He added that he was not sure if he would have a conversation with Donovan about the situation.

While LaVine hasn’t been great this season, he’s managed his knee well and he feels good about his overall health. That’s part of the reason why he didn’t appear to be bothered by the latest unexpected trade rumors.

After all, he’s still a two-time All-Star who signed a huge contract last summer to ensure that he remains in Chicago for the long haul. He’s got an incredible supporting cast around him that includes a top-seed, DeMar DeRozan, and big man Nikola Vucevic.

But this team’s chemistry isn’t clicking and they’ve lost five games in a row. That’s a lot for a team to deal with and they’re probably feeling some frustration at the moment, especially as the trade market is heating up.

It’s a tough place to be right now, but LaVine isn’t worried about being benched. He said he has a good relationship with Donovan and didn’t seem angry about it. Neither did he expect to be benched, and he hopes he can work through this issue.

3. He’s not worried about being traded

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine is unbothered by the latest unexpected trade rumors to swirl around his team. The two-time All-Star signed a massive five-year contract extension this summer and he’s been the subject of trade talk among rival teams.

But with a roster filled with talented scorer-guards, he’s unlikely to leave unless the organization is willing to offer significant draft capital in return. As it stands, LaVine’s role as one of the Bulls’ most dynamic offensive players is largely safe, but he could improve his three-point shooting and there are ongoing injury concerns.

Despite that, the two-time All-Star is proving his worth as a top-50 asset ROS. His latest 41-point performance against the Philadelphia 76ers was an impressive outlier, a feat that only another two-time All-Star Stephen Curry has achieved in NBA history (and he hit all ELEVEN threes).

That explains why he’s not worried about being traded. It also explains why he’s a big reason the Bulls are still on a roll, winning seven of their last eight games while boasting the 11th-best net rating in that span.

When he’s on, LaVine is a true 20-point-per-game scorer who can make the occasional spectacular play when his teammates need it most. It’s a player the Bulls coveted after he signed a massive deal this summer, and he’s proving that he has a place in the organization.

He’s a guy who can take over a game at any moment, and he’s a legitimate box-office superstar. His presence on the team will always keep the Bulls competitive, even if they don’t win more than 30 games in a given season.

And LaVine has the potential to become a dominant force if he can learn to control his emotions better and rely less on his teammates. If that’s the case, the Bulls won’t be looking to trade him for a long time to come.

The Bulls had hoped to bring in an All-Star guard to pair with DeMar DeRozan, who was a key part of the success last season after he joined the team in a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. But they didn’t have enough assets in the trade to land a top-five talent, so they have to work harder to make that happen. Fortunately, they have a lot of talented, young players on the roster to help them get there. Hopefully, they can find the right combination to keep this team competitive for years to come.

4. He’s not worried about being traded to the Cavaliers

When it came time to answer questions about his own future, LaVine did not sweat the issue. He had a good feeling about his place on the team and was confident that his lingering knee issues wouldn’t keep him from playing.

But that wasn’t enough to spare him from the latest unexpected trade rumors. After all, he’s owed $42 million over the next five years by Chicago and it was reported that he would be offered to a number of teams at the trade deadline if he didn’t want to stay in the Windy City.

In a series of interviews with reporters this week, LaVine said that he was unbothered by the latest trade rumors. He also stated that he was focused on the Bulls’ playoff push this season.

Those are pretty bold statements from an All-Star who has made his share of mistakes on the court. He’s also been criticized for his selfish play and lack of team leadership. But LaVine is also a winner and he’s a top-five player at his position who has made great strides in his career.

He’s only 27 and has a good shot at being a franchise player with a chance to win. He has shortcomings that make it hard to ignore, but he’s a very high-quality player who could be an asset in a sign-and-trade with the Cavaliers.

While he hasn’t been as productive as some expected this season, LaVine is still a very reliable scorer who has improved in nearly every category this year. He’s also a strong defensive player, and he has a nice rapport with teammates that allows him to create his own offense.

So if he can stay healthy and continue to improve, why wouldn’t the Bulls keep him? After all, the team would be getting a high-level scorer and a solid defender for a reasonable price.

It’s certainly not a scenario that has gotten much attention lately, but it could happen. If the Cavaliers are willing to part with LaVine, a sign-and-trade would give the Bulls some solid assets for their cap space and would allow them to rebuild their roster without having to pay him a max salary.