Bulls Brand The Nets

It wasn't brilliant strategy, just common sense for the Chicago Bulls. If they wanted to have a chance at winning Sunday, they had to get the ball to Elton Brand.

Brand, limited to nine shots two nights earlier in a loss at New York, touched the ball early and often against the New Jersey Nets.

He matched his season high with 31 points and also grabbed a season-best 16 rebounds as the Bulls beat the Nets 86-77, sending New Jersey to its seventh straight loss.

"I just wanted to be aggressive. I'd only had like nine touches in the last game," Brand said, who went 9-of-16 on field goals and 13-of-17 on free throws.

"We wanted to pound them and go after them. They used single coverage early and that surprised me. And then when they doubled, we kicked it out and made them pay."

Sluggish? They sure played that way, especially Stephon Marbury, who managed 18 points on 5-of-19 shooting.

"I wasn't myself. I don't think I played up to par as I normally can," Marbury said. "I am not blaming that on the travel. I just didn't have it today."

Ron Mercer, who added 18 points for the Bulls, played a strong defensive game against Marbury.

"I just tried to stay in front of him and hope he'd miss shots," Mercer said.

The Nets fell behind by 15 in the third quarter and then nearly overtook the Bulls, pulling within three in the final quarter. But they were doomed by their slow start.

"The travel and a long day is no excuse," Nets coach Byro Scott said. "I guess if you're looking for one, then that would be it. I am disappointed and a little upset we didn't come out prepared."

New Jersey's Aaron Williams added 16 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out.

Brand's thundering dunk on a nifty pass from Bryce Drew gave the Bulls a 59-44 lead late in the third quarter and Chicago appeared on its way to a rare blowout.

But the Nets scored the final six points of the period and the first four of the final quarter, a 10-0 run that narrowed it to 59-54. Brad Miller's only basket of the game and Brand's follow put the Bulls back up by nine, but Williams got inside for two baskets and Sherman Douglas drove for a field goal as the Nets got within 65-62.

Mercer made two baskets and Ron Artest converted a three-point play as the Bulls increased the lead back to eight. New Jersey got within four again before Artest took a pass from Drew for a dunk with 1:50 left.

The Bulls opened up a 43-34 halftime lead as Brand hit eight straight free throws and a basket to spark a 17-7 second-quarter run.

"We brought Elton into the post at different areas to get him the ball," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "That helped him attack the basket."

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