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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- In a game that was only about
pride, the Chicago Bulls showed a little more than the New Jersey
Nets.
Ron Artest hit a go-ahead layup with 39.2 seconds left and the
Bulls added a final insult to the New Jersey's injury-plagued
season, beating the Nets 100-94 in their season finale Tuesday
night.
"We're being evaluated," Bulls rookie A.J. Guyton said after
scoring a career-high 24 points. "You're always out there playing
for the future. We want to establish ourselves so we can be a good
team next year."
Artest added 19 and Marcus Fizer had 17 as the Bulls won for
only the third time in 22 games.
Fred Hoiberg had 15 points and Elton Brand added 12 points and
12 rebounds as Chicago (14-67) won its second consecutive on the road,
and its fourth in 40 games away from the United Center. The Bulls
finish another dismal season at Philadelphia on Wednesday.
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“ |
Somewhere down the line, guys have
to look at themselves and decide what they want
to do in this league. A lot of guys coasted the last week or so. They were stealing
money. ” |
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— Nets coach Byron Scott |
"It's a process," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "That word has
been overused at our place. At least we don't have to be talking
about streaks going into next year."
Lucious Harris had a season-high 27 points for the Nets, who
used a late 14-4 run to wipe out a 10-point deficit, tying the game
at 94 on a reverse layup by Harris with 57.4 seconds to play.
Artest then drove the lane for a layup. After Harris missed a
go-ahead 3-point attempt, Hoiberg and Guyton each added two free
throws to send the Nets (26-56) and rookie coach Byron Scott to
their sixth consecutive defeat.
"We have work to do this summer," Scott said. "No disrespect
to Chicago, but this is a game we should have won. Somewhere down
the line, guys have to look at themselves and decide what they want
to do in this league. A lot of guys coasted the last week or so.
They were stealing money."
The Nets lost 345 manpower games to injury this season, one shy
of the team record set in 1987-88. In the final weeks of the
season, the lineup was filled with free agents signed to 10-day
contracts.
Starters Stephon Marbury, Kenyon Martin, Kendall Gill and Jamie
Feick were lost to injury during the season. Kerry Kittles missed
the entire season because of a knee injury, and Keith Van Horn
missed the first 32 games because of a broken leg.
The Nets' mascot, Sly, even went down with a knee injury late in
the season.
Chicago took the lead midway though the first quarter and it led
by as many as 13 points late in third.
The lead was still 90-80 with 6:33 to play when the Bulls went
cold. Harris scored 10 of the 14 points in the Nets' late run, but
he missed the shot that would have put them ahead.
"It was kind of hard to get up for the last game but you still
have to do it," said Harris, who shot 12-for-21 from the field,
but only 1-for-5 from 3-point range. "But not all the guys came
out tonight and played as hard as they could and it cost us."
Doug Overton added 17 points and Van Horn had 15 in what some
think might be his last game with the Nets. Scott is looking to
make changes next season and Van Horn's name has been mentioned in
reports.
Van Horn refused to discuss his future with the team.
"Everyone on this team will be looked at and I'm sure they're
going to have to make decisions to try to improve things."
Game notes
Guyton's previous high was 19 points. Harris' previous
career high was 31. ... The Bulls outrebounded the Nets 45-35,
although the Nets outscored Chicago 40-26 in the paint. ... Chicago
shot 9-for-17 from 3-point range. ... The Bulls shot 25-for-30 from
the free throw line, the Nets shot 10-for-15.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 94
Detroit 92
Atlanta 122
Washington 119
Miami 91
Milwaukee 89
Chicago 100
New Jersey 94
Philadelphia 111
Indiana 105
Houston 114
Minnesota 87
Utah 97
LA Clippers 92
San Antonio 99
Portland 93
LA Lakers 108
Denver 91
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