Birthday boy Crabbe scores 41 to lead Nets past Bulls

[April 10, 2018]  Allen Crabbe celebrated his 26th birthday by scoring a career-high 41 points as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Chicago Bulls 114-105 Monday night in their final home game of the season at Barclays Center.

Crabbe helped the Nets win three straight for the first time this season by hitting 12 of 15 field goals and 8 of 11 3-point attempts. He scored 29 points in the first half, the most in a half by any Net since Joe Johnson also totaled 29 in the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 16, 2013.

Crabbe posted his team-leading 16th game with at least 20 points and surpassed his previous career best of 34 set Feb. 7 at Detroit. He also joined Vince Carter (2008-09) as the second player in franchise history to hit at least five 3-pointers in three straight games.

D'Angelo Russell added 21 points and 11 assists while Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 20 for Brooklyn, which swept the season series for the first time since 2004-05. The Nets shot 50 percent, made 42.9 percent (18 of 42) of 3-pointers and collected 32 assists, marking the first time they registered at least 30 assists in three straight games since the 2005-06 season.

Sean Kilpatrick, who began the season with Brooklyn, led the Bulls with 16 points. He faced the Nets for the fifth time this season after spending time with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Cameron Payne added 15 and Bobby Portis contributed 14 as Chicago lost for the 10th time in 13 games.

Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) dribbles the ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Quincy Acy (13) during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Crabbe scored 17 of Brooklyn's 19 points and reached 20 points by the end of the first quarter as the Nets took a 29-26 lead. Crabbe hit five of Brooklyn's six 3-pointers in the opening 12 minutes and reached 29 points as Brooklyn took a 62-55 halftime lead.

Crabbe then hit his sixth 3-pointer with 58 seconds left and topped 30 points by hitting a 3-pointer for a 67-58 lead with 9:08 remaining in the third. He matched his career high by converting a layup with 6:24 remaining for a 74-67 lead and then surpassed it with his eighth 3-pointer nearly two minutes later.

Brooklyn was up 96-90 when Crabbe returned again, and he finished off his big night by hitting a pair of free throws with 68 seconds left to ice the game.

--Field Level Media

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