Back-to-backs are now the NBA’s most ubiquitous thorn in its side, with fans, players, and coaches now well aware of the setbacks and melodrama two games in two days often bring. The Brooklyn Nets, though, were tasked with as pleasant of a back-to-back on Thanksgiving weekend as you could draw up.
On Saturday night, the Nets defeated a Miami Heat team missing their four leading scorers — only one out with a long term injury — at home. They stayed at the Barclays Center on Sunday night to battle the Bulls, who have suffered many close losses this season but nonetheless entered action at 5-12, their collective soul withering away before a trade deadline that may benevolently pull the plug.