Game ID: 22500587
Chicago Bulls @ Brooklyn Nets
Friday, January 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BKN 27 30 32 23 112CHI 23 17 32 37 109
BKN vs CHI ScoutingBKN vs CHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BKN availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Saraf missed 11 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 1/04, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 16)
OUT Etienne missed 12 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 2 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/04 after 2, 35 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Claxton back 1/07 after 2, 23 min since (83% of 28)
BACK Williams back 1/01 after 2, 24 min since (107% of 23)
NEW Sharpe 19 to 25 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Saraf missed 12 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 3 since 1/04, returns tonight: 22 min (114% of 19)
OUT Etienne missed 13 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 3 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/04 after 2, 35 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Claxton back 1/07 after 2, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Williams back 1/01 after 2, 24 min since (107% of 23)
BACK Wilson back 1/09 after 2, 2 min since (15% of 16)
NEW Sharpe 19 to 26 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/12 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Saraf missed 13 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 14 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 4 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/04 after 2, 35 min since (106% of 32)
BACK Claxton back 1/07 after 2, 27 min since (98% of 28)
BACK Martin back 1/11 after 3, 22 min since (114% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 1/09 after 2, 10 min since (63% of 16)
NEW Sharpe 19 to 26 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/14 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Saraf missed 14 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 15 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 5 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Porter Jr. back 1/04 after 2, 34 min since (105% of 32)
BACK Claxton back 1/07 after 2, 27 min since (96% of 28)
BACK Martin back 1/11 after 3, 21 min since (110% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 1/09 after 2, 12 min since (73% of 16)
NEW Sharpe 19 to 24 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 4 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Saraf missed 15 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 2 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 16 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 6 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Claxton back 1/07 after 2, 27 min since (98% of 28)
BACK Martin back 1/11 after 3, 21 min since (110% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 1/09 after 2, 12 min since (73% of 16)
BKN availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Williams missed 5 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Saraf missed 16 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 3 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Martin missed 2 since 1/14, returns tonight: 23 min (121% of 19)
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 1/14, returns tonight: 20 min (125% of 16)
OUT Etienne missed 17 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 7 since 1/04, out tonight
BKN availability going into 1/19 · back-to-backOUT Williams missed 6 since 1/09, returns tonight: 24 min (103% of 23)
OUT Saraf missed 17 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 4 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 18 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 8 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Martin back 1/11 after 3, 21 min since (114% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 1/18 after 2, 20 min since (125% of 16)
BKN availability going into 1/21 · 1 day's restOUT Saraf missed 18 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 5 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 19 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 9 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Williams back 1/19 after 6, 24 min since (103% of 23)
BACK Martin back 1/18 after 2, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 1/18 after 2, 16 min since (102% of 16)
BKN availability going into 1/23 · 1 day's restOUT Saraf missed 19 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Johnson missed 6 since 1/12, out tonight
OUT Etienne missed 20 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Liddell missed 10 since 1/04, out tonight
BACK Williams back 1/19 after 6, 21 min since (94% of 23)
BACK Martin back 1/18 after 2, 16 min since (86% of 19)
BACK Wilson back 1/18 after 2, 14 min since (91% of 16)
CHI availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Giddey missed 4 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK White back 1/05 after 3, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Carter back 12/29 after 8, 8 min since (69% of 11)
BACK Terry back 12/29 after 5, 10 min since (92% of 11)
CHI availability going into 1/10 · 2 days' restOUT Giddey missed 5 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 2 since 1/05, returns tonight: 16 min (79% of 21)
OUT Collins missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK White back 1/05 after 3, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Carter back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (60% of 11)
CHI availability going into 1/13 · 2 days' restOUT Giddey missed 6 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK White back 1/05 after 3, 27 min since (93% of 29)
BACK Smith back 1/10 after 2, 16 min since (79% of 21)
BACK Carter back 1/05 after 2, 5 min since (49% of 11)
CHI availability going into 1/14 · back-to-backOUT Giddey missed 7 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 8 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK White back 1/05 after 3, 27 min since (93% of 29)
BACK Smith back 1/10 after 2, 26 min since (127% of 21)
BACK Carter back 1/05 after 2, 5 min since (49% of 11)
CHI availability going into 1/16 · 1 day's restOUT Giddey missed 8 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 9 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 2 since 1/13, out tonight
BACK White back 1/05 after 3, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Smith back 1/10 after 2, 23 min since (112% of 21)
CHI availability going into 1/18 · 1 day's restOUT Giddey missed 9 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 10 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 3 since 1/13, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 11)
BACK Smith back 1/10 after 2, 26 min since (127% of 21)
CHI availability going into 1/20 · 1 day's restOUT Giddey missed 10 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Collins missed 11 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Smith back 1/10 after 2, 27 min since (131% of 21)
BACK Carter back 1/18 after 3, 3 min since (25% of 11)
CHI availability going into 1/22 · 1 day's restOUT Giddey missed 11 since 12/31, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Williams missed 2 since 1/18, returns tonight: 16 min (77% of 20)
OUT Collins missed 12 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Carter back 1/18 after 3, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NEW Smith 21 to 29 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 1/24 · 1 day's restOUT Collins missed 13 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Giddey back 1/22 after 11, 26 min since (81% of 32)
BACK Williams back 1/22 after 2, 16 min since (77% of 20)
BACK Carter back 1/18 after 3, 3 min since (29% of 11)
NEW Smith 21 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 33 from three, 16 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 25 and Dëmin at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Williams (4 straight), Saraf (15 straight), Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 15 free throws a game; Vučević at 20 and Buzelis at 17 a game. Without Giddey (8 straight), Collins (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-1 a night and Brooklyn minus-5. Call it Brooklyn 114, Chicago 112, Chicago keeping it close.
1/09 vs LAC 105-121 — BKN notes
BKN lost 105-121. BKN took 24 more shots (100 to 76), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 40% to LAC's 59%, 15 of 47 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 18 fouls committed. Dëmin led with 19 (6 of 13, 5 of 10 from three); Porter Jr. added 18, Claxton 13. Q3 was theirs, 29-28, the deficit cut from 16 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 93-76 against them. Claxton's -15 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/11 @ MEM 98-103 — BKN notes
BKN lost 98-103. BKN shot 41% (36 of 88) to MEM's 42%, 18 of 48 from three. The glass went 43-54 against them. Clowney led with 17 (4 of 17, 4 of 15 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Martin added 17, Wolf 11. Q3 was theirs, 24-16, the deficit cut from 11 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 87-74 against them. Dëmin's -16 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/12 @ DAL 105-113 — BKN notes
BKN lost 105-113. BKN shot 45% (39 of 86) to DAL's 51%, 9 of 37 from three. BKN turned it over 17 times to DAL's 12, and DAL turned those into 9 steals. Porter Jr. led with 28 (9 of 17, 6 of 10 from three); Sharpe added 14, Clowney 13. Q3 was theirs, 32-28, the deficit cut from 11 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 85-73 against them. Claxton's -10 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/14 @ NOP 113-116 — BKN notes
BKN lost 113-116. BKN shot 47% (45 of 95) to NOP's 44%, 16 of 43 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 21 fouls committed. The glass went 43-53 against them. Porter Jr. led with 20 (7 of 20, 4 of 12 from three); Dëmin added 17, Powell 16. Q1 was theirs, 31-27, but the other 3 periods went 89-82 against them. They led by as many as 12.
1/16 vs CHI 112-109 — BKN notes
BKN won 112-109. BKN shot 43% (39 of 91) to CHI's 48%, 19 of 40 from three. BKN turned it over 14 times to CHI's 7, and CHI turned those into 10 steals. Porter Jr. led with 26 (9 of 17, 5 of 10 from three); Clowney added 23, Sharpe 14. The hinge was Q2, 30-17: a lead of 4 became 17, and the lead reached 20. Dëmin was the night's best plus/minus at +11.
1/18 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vučević at 21 and Dosunmu at 17 a game. Without Giddey (9 straight), Collins (10 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 15 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 23 and Clowney at 14 a game. Without Williams (5 straight), Saraf (16 straight), Johnson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Chicago 116, Brooklyn 111.
1/19 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 113, shooting 44 percent and 38 from three, 16 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 25 and Clowney at 13 a game. Without Williams (6 straight), Saraf (17 straight), Johnson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Phoenix comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 107, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Booker at 25 and Allen at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Green (32 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, on the road, and the game turns on the line, where Phoenix takes 23 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 16 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 107 a night to Brooklyn's 113. Call it Phoenix 112, Brooklyn 109, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/21 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 114, shooting 43 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Towns at 19 and Anunoby at 19 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 17 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 24 and Clowney at 13 a game. Without Saraf (18 straight), Johnson (5 straight), Etienne (19 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the arc, Brooklyn at 38 percent from three to New York's 31 and the glass, where New York has been plus-4 a night and Brooklyn minus-2. Call it New York 115, Brooklyn 111, Brooklyn keeping it close.
1/23 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 119, shooting 43 percent and 39 from three, 16 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 20 and Clowney at 12 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Saraf (19 straight), Johnson (6 straight), Etienne (20 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 105, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brown at 32 and Hauser at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Minott (9 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Brooklyn minus-9 and the defense, Boston allowing 105 a night to Brooklyn's 119. Call it Boston 115, Brooklyn 107.
1/07 @ DET 93-108 — CHI notes
CHI lost 93-108. CHI shot 43% (37 of 87) to DET's 49%, 13 of 34 from three. CHI turned it over 17 times to DET's 8, and DET turned those into 10 steals. Dosunmu led with 24 (10 of 15, 4 of 6 from three); Buzelis added 20, Vučević 20. Q2 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 6 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 86-67 against them. Dosunmu's -20 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/10 vs DAL 125-107 — CHI notes
CHI won 125-107. CHI shot 52% (50 of 97) to DAL's 43%, 15 of 46 from three, and got to the line 12 times to DAL's 25. The glass went 52-42 for them. White led with 22 (9 of 15, 2 of 7 from three); Dosunmu added 20, Vučević 15. The hinge was Q1, 36-28: from level to 8 ahead, and the lead reached 27. Huerter was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
1/13 @ HOU 113-119 — CHI notes
CHI lost 113-119. CHI shot 44% (41 of 94) to HOU's 51%, 12 of 37 from three, and got to the line 23 times to HOU's 29. The glass went 40-50 against them. Jones led with 34 (11 of 12, 5 of 6 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Buzelis added 19, Vučević 14. Q2 was theirs, 36-28, turning a 5-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. Buzelis's -13 in 37 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/14 vs UTA 128-126 — CHI notes
CHI won 128-126. CHI shot 51% (47 of 92) to UTA's 55%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 21 times to UTA's 27. Vučević led with 35 (14 of 22, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Dosunmu added 15, Williams 13. The hinge was Q2, 35-23: CHI came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 9.
1/16 @ BKN 109-112 — CHI notes
CHI lost 109-112. CHI shot 48% (41 of 86) to BKN's 43%, 11 of 35 from three. CHI turned it over 7 times to BKN's 14. Vučević led with 19 (9 of 14, 1 of 3 from three); Dosunmu added 18, White 17. Q4 was theirs, 37-23, the deficit cut from 17 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 89-72 against them.
1/18 vs BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vučević at 21 and Dosunmu at 17 a game. Without Giddey (9 straight), Collins (10 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 15 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 23 and Clowney at 14 a game. Without Williams (5 straight), Saraf (16 straight), Johnson (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Chicago 116, Brooklyn 111.
1/20 vs LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vučević at 20 and White at 17 a game. Without Giddey (10 straight), Collins (11 straight). One day's rest. The Clippers come in 5-0 over their last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 30 free throws a game; Leonard at 31 and Harden at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. They have lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Leonard (2 straight), Jones Jr. (8 straight), Bogdanović (12 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the line, where the Clippers take 30 free throws a game to Chicago's 17 and the glass, where Chicago has been plus-1 a night and the Clippers minus-5. Call it Chicago 116, the Clippers 113, the Clippers keeping it close.
1/22 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Edwards at 39 and Randle at 24 a game. That is 3 straight losses. One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 114, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 17 free throws a game; Vučević at 21 and White at 18 a game. Without Giddey (11 straight), Williams (2 straight), Collins (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the line, where Minnesota takes 25 free throws a game to Chicago's 17. Call it Minnesota 119, Chicago 116, Chicago keeping it close.
1/24 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 113, shooting 50 percent and 43 from three, 19 free throws a game; Vučević at 20 and White at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Collins (13 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 46 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brown at 31 and Hauser at 20 a game. Without Minott (10 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the arc, Chicago at 43 percent from three to Boston's 38 and the turnovers, Boston giving it away 13 times a game to Chicago's 10. Call it Chicago 118, Boston 115, Boston keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BKNCT C. Thomas
DP D. Powell
DS D. Sharpe
DW D. Wolf
DE Demin
ED E. Dëmin
MP M. Porter Jr.
NC N. Claxton
NC N. Clowney
NT N. Traore
TM T. Mann
CHIAD A. Dosunmu
CW C. White
IO I. Okoro
JS J. Smith
KH K. Huerter
MB M. Buzelis
NV N. Vučević
PW P. Williams
TJ T. Jones
VU Vucevic
BKN/CHI the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Porter makes go-ahead basket and the Nets beat the Bulls 112-109 to snap a 5-game skid
NEW YORK -- — Michael Porter Jr . made a go-ahead layup with 5.4 seconds remaining after Brooklyn had blown a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, and the Nets beat the Chicago Bulls 112-109 on Friday night.
Porter scored 26 points and Noah Clowney had 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Day'Ron Sharpe scored 14 points and rookie Danny Wolf had 13.
Nikola Vucevic scored 19 points and Ayo Dosunmu had 18 for the Bulls in the opener of a home-and-home series.
Coach Jordi Fernandez thought the Nets could’ve won all three games on their just-completed road trip, but it appeared they wouldn't need to worry about another close finish after a 15-0 run in the second quarter helped them take a 17-point halftime lead, their second-largest of the season.
Cam Thomas’ 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter made it 92-72 before the Bulls scored the next 11 points. Thomas hit another 3 to stop that surge, and the Nets still led by six with under a minute remaining.
The Bulls then scored seven straight points to go ahead 109-108 on Tre Jones’ layup with 11.4 seconds remaining. The Nets ran a play to get Porter the ball near the basket, and he put the Nets back on top. Rookie Drake Powell then stole Chicago’s pass in from the sideline and Clowney's two free throws made it 112-109 before Vucevic missed a rushed 3-pointer.
Brooklyn had a 42-38 lead with about 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter that should've been cut to two, but Matas Buzelis missed a fast-break dunk attempt with nobody around. Clowney then converted a pair of three-point plays during a personal run of seven straight points, and after Porter made a 3-pointer, Clowney hit one to extend the lead to 17 before Egor Demin made two free throws to end the run and make it 57-38.