Chicago Bulls defeated the visiting Brooklyn Nets with a 118-102 victory at the United Center on Thursday evening. 

The 2014 NBA draft 11^th overall pick Doug McDermott finished the game with a team-high of 25 points coming off the bench, while Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Bulls back in the playoff position edging a half-game ahead of the Detroit Pistons into eighth place in the jampacked Eastern Conference.

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"Just the belief that the coaches and the guys on the team have in me," said McDermott, who is getting into rhythm as Coach Hoiberg puts him in key situation." I got it going early, which always helps, so I just have to build off that."

Four more players from the Bulls scored double figures with Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis and Aaron Brooks all dropped 12 points in the game with Portis adding 14 rebounds for a double-double game performance.

Chicago opens the first quarter with a strong start putting up a 24-14 run and continued to outscore the Nets in the second quarter with a 31-23 run. The Bulls ended the first half leading with 55-37, however, Brooklyn made a 37-24 run in the third period and narrow the gap within five 79-74 entering the final twelve minutes of the match.

The Bull staged an 18-13 run during the first five-and-a-half minutes of the final period that made it 97-87. The host was able to protect its lead and even extend it to 13 points with a back-to-back three-pointer from McDermott and Rose 109-96 with three minutes to go.

Chicago held the Nets to just six more points in the remaining minutes of the game and seal the victory with a three-point shot by Jrue Holiday with 11.2 seconds left on the game clock.

The Bulls got a season-high 60 points from its reserves, including McDermott's output that included five 3-pointers.

Bogan Bogdanovic led Brooklyn with game-high 26 points and Thaddeus Young had a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Tagschicago bull, Brooklyn Nets, nba recap, NBA 2016, doug mcdermott, Jimmy Butler, derrick rose