DeRozan turns on jets late as Bulls dump Spurs

LOS ANGELES – DeMar DeRozan caught fire late, using a calculated game plan to score a team-high 40 points as the Chicago Bulls seized control in the final quarter to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 120-109, on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time).

The Bulls trailed by six points entering the fourth quarter but then DeRozan busted loose, scoring 11 of his team's next 13 points to give Chicago the lead. 

DeRozan says he tried to remain calm throughout, especially in the third quarter when the Spurs outscored the Bulls 32-24.

"Come the fourth quarter my main priority is to win at any cost," said DeRozan. "You have to understand the whole game. It is tough to go out there from the jump ball and just be aggressive and try to score. 

"You got to dissect the game. I collect data throughout the game and come the fourth quarter I got it all figured out and the ball is going in the hoop."

DeRozan has scored 30 or more points in seven straight games and established a club record with his sixth straight game of at least 35 points, surpassing Michael Jordan in the 1996-97 season.

Nikola Vucevic added 25 points and 16 rebounds and Coby White scoring 24 points and Ayo Dosunmu hitting for 12 in the win. 

Chicago shot 52.3% from the floor and outrebounded the Spurs 58-41.

Lonnie Walker led San Antonio with 21 points off the bench. Doug McDermott and Dejounte Murray added 19 points each and Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl scored 13 apiece for the Spurs in front of a crowd of 21,100 at the United Center.

In New York, Seth Curry scored 23 points in his debut for Brooklyn as the Nets snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 109-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings. 

Curry helped Brooklyn get its first win since beating San Antonio on January 21. He made 10 of 18 shots, including three 3-pointers and added seven rebounds and five assists.

Also, CJ McCollum scored 23 points as the host New Orleans Pelicans dominated the Toronto Raptors with a 120-90 victory.