Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls Final Score & Over/Under Result — Jan 18, 2026

The market total of 223.5 proved too conservative as Brooklyn and Chicago combined for 226 points, an over by 2.5 that hinged on a fast opening quarter. The first 12 minutes alone produced 61 combined points—well ahead of pace—setting the tone for a game that stayed elevated through halftime at 121 combined. Chicago controlled the early rhythm behind Coby White's 24 points and 4 rebounds, while Ayo Dosunmu contributed 19 points and 5 assists, helping the Bulls build a foundation that would carry them to a 124–102 victory.

The second half told a different story. Combined scoring dropped sharply to just 45 points in the third quarter, a stark cooling that suggested the pace might revert toward the market number. Brooklyn's bench contributors—Nolan Traore (16 points, 2 assists), Jalen Wilson (14 points, 5 rebounds), and Danny Wolf (14 points)—kept the Nets within reach, but they never threatened. Chicago's Nikola Vučević anchored the paint with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists, and the fourth quarter reignited with 60 combined points, enough to push the final total across the line. DAGGER leaned under, and it missed. Both teams' season-long offensive profiles—Chicago averaging 112.4 and Brooklyn 106.5 over their last 10—suggested a lower ceiling, but the opener's hot pace proved decisive.