In classic Brooklyn fashion, the Nets came out storming in the first playoff game in BK since the Dodgers left for Los Angeles. They dominated the Bulls, who couldn't get anything going offensively and looked like Swiss cheese on defense. Deron Williams came out of his season-long coma and might be reentering his almost-as-good-as-Chris-Paul peak.
The second half was more of the same. Deron continued to pour it on, finishing with 22 points and seven dimes. Brook Lopez added 21 and Gerald Wallace chipped in 14 to put the Bulls down early. It was ugly, and the series may already be over. Look out Miami.
The Nets went on to win 106-89. Here's how it went down on Twitter.
It must be a big game. My man @stephenasmith is at the lay-up line. #Nets #Bulls twitter.com/RyanRuocco/sta…
— Ryan Ruocco (@RyanRuocco) April 21, 2013
DRose is sitting on Bulls bench.
— K.C Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 21, 2013
Boozer connects on consecutive jumpers bringing the Bulls within one at 7-6 early on in Brookly. #NETSvBULLS
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 21, 2013
Jay-Z no longer owns any fraction of the spectacle, but he's at Nets-Bulls, sitting courtside. bit.ly/ZcwVC9
— SBNation NBA (@SBNationNBA) April 21, 2013
This is why I couldn't pick the Bulls in this series. They won't ever get an easy playoff basket without Rose and a healthy Noah.
— Chris Herring (@HerringWSJ) April 21, 2013
Brook knocks down a pair from the line to extend the #Nets lead to 9. #BKNvsCHI
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 21, 2013
At the end of the 1st qtr, Bulls trail the Nets 25-14. Boozer leads with 6pts, Gibson added 4pts off the bench. #NETSvBULLS #SeeRed
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 21, 2013
Derrick Rose #Bulls Bulls’ Derrick Rose ‘most likely out’ for playoffs dlvr.it/3GBdPg #MustFollow DRNews
— Derrick Rose News (@DerrickRoseFanv) April 21, 2013
During the regular season, the Nets were +6 against the Bulls in the first quarter. Bulls were +8 in the second. Let's see if that holds.
— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) April 21, 2013
C.J. Watson draws the foul after swishing a floater, and the #Nets lead the #Bulls 34-22 with 7:54 left in the first half.
— Dime Update (@DimeUpdate) April 21, 2013
All Booz Everything…Bulls will need more than that to stay in this game, though
— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) April 21, 2013
My man D Will lighting it up! #netsvbulls
— Billy Schulz (@BillySchulz) April 21, 2013
Wow. I can almost hear @pingshoops cheering. #Nets are running the #Bulls out of the building. Barclays is shaking.
— Moke Hamilton (@MokeHamilton) April 21, 2013
Its still early but the Nets are balling! 43-26 with 4:29 left til the half.
— Jerald Hoover NBA (@jerryhoover65) April 21, 2013
Bulls now doubling Lopez on the catch. Rare for them. Lopez makes them pay with a sharp kickout for a Watson 3.
— Beckley Mason (@BeckleyMason) April 21, 2013
Brooooooklyyyynnn!!! @brooklynnets#brooklynnets #netsvbulls #Nets
— Hi, Im Awesome (@RobJimenez89) April 21, 2013
Lopez is killing it in the Bulls/Nets game. Really entertaining to watch. #playoffs #NETSvBULLS
— Ritwik Roy (@ritwikr) April 21, 2013
Brooklyn is going in on the bulls!!! Wow!!!!!!
— TheRealPeteRock (@PeteRock) April 21, 2013
Nets 34 points in the paint.
— K.C Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 21, 2013
Gerald Wallace has been spectacular in the 1st half. If he continues to play like this, Nets are going to be a tough out.
— NBA Guru (@NBAGuru) April 21, 2013
Forget what's happening on the court for a second…"Who Shot Ya?" during a game made my day
— Aggrey Sam (@CSNBullsInsider) April 21, 2013
Anyone think the Nets would be up 25 at the half?
— Larry Fleisher (@larryfleisher) April 21, 2013
60-35 Nets over Bulls halftime…..
— Jerald Hoover NBA (@jerryhoover65) April 21, 2013
The blackout is a blowout. Nets 60, Bulls 35 at halftime.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) April 21, 2013
"the game cheatin, bruh" -Chicago Bulls
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgeFoster72) April 21, 2013
Wake me up for Clips/Grizz.
— Sarah Hecht (@sarahhechtNBA) April 21, 2013
The Deron & Brook Show continues.. D-Will cuts up the D & dishes no-look to Lopez for the SLAM #NBARapidReplay – on.nba.com/17ONeZ6
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
Shirts Nets are giving away tonight twitter.com/darrenrovell/s…
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) April 21, 2013
"When does the game start?"- Chicago Bulls
— George Papadopoulos (@GeorgeFoster72) April 21, 2013
Nets aren't letting up. Third quarters were usually their drop off quarters.
— Jerald Hoover NBA (@jerryhoover65) April 21, 2013
The #Bulls look like they have no business being on the floor with the #Nets. Wow. P.J. had his team ready to play today.
— Moke Hamilton (@MokeHamilton) April 21, 2013
Deron Williams has always appreciated our concern for his health. We're no longer concerned. #Nets
— Mike Mazzeo (@MazzESPN) April 21, 2013
The Nets by far just wow. They've murdered the Bulls tonight.
— Fooly (@YolyyG) April 21, 2013
Deron has 19, Brook has 21 & the Nets are cruising 89-61 over an unusually hapless Chicago with one quarter to play #BKNvsCHI #NBANationOz
— Nick Caro (@NickoToGo) April 21, 2013
BKN Nets up 27. Seeing Williams reverse slam off the steal was even better #sctop10
— Matt Aleman (@Maleman5) April 21, 2013
It's showtime in Brooklyn!! D-Will rises up w/ the NASTY double-clutch reverse jam on ESPN #NBARapidReplay – on.nba.com/12wtPtG
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
Quick recap: Lopez has dominated inside, D-Will has earned his money, Wallace has played his best game since at least late March. #Nets
— Josh Newman™ (@Joshua_Newman) April 21, 2013
The @brooklynnets are ballin' & push the lead to 89-62 vs @chicagobulls after 3Q on ESPN. Lopez w/ 21, Deron 19 & 7a, Boozer 24. #NETSvBULLS
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
Can this Bulls/Nets series please go kill itself. Jump off the Sears tower or BK Bridge and buck itself in the head on the way down
— Vince Thomas (@vincecathomas) April 21, 2013
Thibodeau, known for used-car salesman garb, is in a gingham shirt/paisley tie. No wonder Bulls have lost their identity. So has Thibs.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) April 21, 2013
Why is Brook Lopez still in this game? Nets up 22 under 7 min to go. #nets
— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) April 21, 2013
Deron with a two-handed fastbreak reverse. Now, I've really seen it all. #Nets lead 89-62 as we head to the fourth quarter.
— Rod Boone (@rodboone) April 21, 2013
Not a great night for my Bulls. Are there more Chicago folks thinking about next year already?
— DeAntae Prince (@DeAntae) April 21, 2013
D-Will scores 22 w/ 7a, 3s & Lopez adds 21 as @brooklynnets shoot 56% & beat @chicagobulls 106-89 to take Game 1. Boozer had 25 #NETSvBULLS
— NBA (@NBA) April 21, 2013
#nets rout #bulls in game 1 at barclays center: ow.ly/kgejh … #nba
— Kevin Spain (@kevin_spain) April 21, 2013
