The Brooklyn Nets will look to correct their first home loss under P.J. Calesimo when they host the visiting Chicago Bulls Friday night at 7"30 pm ET.
Watch Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets live stream, click here.
Since Carlesimo took over for the fired Avery Johnson on Dec. 27, the Nets and Bulls share the East's best record at 13-5. However, while Chicago (28-17) has won eight of 10, Brooklyn (27-19) has lost three of four as Joe Johnson has averaged 13.3 points and shot 36.7 percent from the field.
Johnson averaged 19.7 points in the first 11 games of January, making 30 of 69 from 3-point range, as the Nets went 10-1. He scored 16 on Wednesday but went 4 of 15 from the floor with four turnovers in a 105-85 loss to conference-leading Miami, which outscored Brooklyn by 20 in the second half.
The Nets missed a chance to tie the franchise record of 12 wins in any month, and they had an eight-game home winning streak snapped.
Chicago is a conference-best 13-6 in road games, including 6-1 in January. The Bulls opened a six-game trip with a 104-88 win in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
Though All-Stars Joakim Noah and Luol Deng get much of the credit for Chicago's success with Derrick Rose still sidelined, reserves Jimmy Butler and Nate Robinson have keyed the recent surge.
Another key bench player for the Bulls has been Brooklyn native Taj Gibson, though he could get a second straight start Friday if Carlos Boozer sits out again with a strained hamstring. Gibson had 14 points and nine rebounds Wednesday.
The Bulls have held seven straight opponents below 90 points and have limited the Nets to an average of 87.7 in the past six meetings, winning five.
