The Brooklyn Nets survived a late rally from the Chicago Bulls, and Michael Porter Jr. helped the team pull out a 112-109 escape to end their five-game slide on Friday night at the Barclays Center.
After squandering a 20-point lead in the final quarter when Tre Jones hit the go-ahead layup in transition, Michael Porter Jr. converted on a drive in the ensuing possession to give the Brooklyn Nets the lead for good.
“It was a play to give me that side on the pin down and give me the ball and try to make a play. I felt like I let the team down a little bit last game, and honestly, tonight with a late turnover. So I was pretty determined to try to get a good look off. This is how a losing team becomes a winning team,” Porter said of his game-winner via the New York Post.
“I just need him to catch the ball. After that, he knows what he’s doing,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “He caught it close to the elbow. It was easy enough for him to use his size and finish. Very proud of him for how he executed. He was responsible. He played like the player that he is. We would have not won this game without Michael.”
Brooklyn Nets News: Jordi Fernandez explains benching Egor Demin down the stretch vs. Chicago Bulls
Jordi Fernandez went with Nolan Traore instead of Egor Demin in the final few minutes of last night’s win vs. the Chicago Bulls, and the Brooklyn Nets head coach addressed the surprising coaching decision after the game.
“I needed Egor to lead with this physicality, and those are conversations he and I have,” Fernandez said. “I know he can do it, because late in the game against New Orleans, he had great stops. I know (Dëmin’s) not happy if I take him out of the game. That’s what I hope. And then from there, I know he can bring that level of physicality to guard, to switch, to guard bigger guys, to get into the paint.”
Demin played only 19 minutes and had five points and two assists on 1-for-4 shooting, while Traore had eight points, two rebounds, and seven assists on 2-for-7 shooting in 28 minutes.
