NEW YORK -- Jason Collins started walking from the bench to the scorers table, fans rising out of their seats all around Barclays Center. Howie Long Jersey . He committed a foul five seconds after entering. His only shot barely hit the rim. Collins performance may not have been pretty, but everything else was great. Collins played the final minutes of a winning home debut with the Brooklyn Nets, who cooled off the Chicago Bulls with a 96-80 victory Monday night. "It was cool. It was a lot of fun to go into the game," Collins said. "The most important thing was that we got the win. Chicagos been playing really well as of late and for us to come out and really be -- I think we played more physical than they did tonight." Finally playing at home more than a week after returning to the NBA as the leagues first openly gay player, Collins checked in to a standing ovation from a sellout crowd of 17,732 that included former NBA Commissioner David Stern with 2:41 remaining. He grabbed a rebound and had one of the Nets NBA season high-tying 19 steals in their third straight victory. Deron Williams scored 20 points and Joe Johnson had 19 for the Nets (29-29), who got back to .500 for the first time since they were 2-2 after beating Utah on Nov. 5. D.J. Augustin scored 16 points off the bench for the sloppy Bulls, who turned it over 28 times, leading to 30 Nets points, and had their four-game winning streak snapped. The Bulls had a franchise-low three turnovers in their 109-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday and had won nine of 10. But the Nets were too good in this one, building a series of comfortable leads and making the only intrigue down the stretch whether Collins would get in during his first home appearance for the Nets since Jan. 29, 2008, against Milwaukee in East Rutherford, N.J. A chant of "Jason Collins! Jason Collins!" broke out while Williams was shooting a free throw with the Nets leading 90-73 with 3:27 remaining. Fans finally got their wish less than a minute later -- though not because coach Jason Kidd was listening to them. "No, the game was out of hand, so I wanted to get those guys some rest," he said. "D-Will was shooting free throws. Couldnt put Twin in at that time, so I told him after the free throws that he would come in." Collins original 10-day contract will expire Tuesday and the Nets plan to sign him to a second deal on Wednesday. A Nets player from 2001-08, he has appeared in all five games since he signed on Feb. 23. Paul Pierce and Shaun Livingston each scored 14 points for the Nets, who were without starting centre Kevin Garnett for a second straight game because of back spasms. "Mentally, the Bulls have really had our numbers," Pierce said. "To be honest, if I was them Id feel like when they come play the Nets, they feel like they could beat us every time. I think the guys really had pride tonight to say, You know were tired of getting pushed around by the Bulls." Joakim Noah managed just 10 points, six rebounds and one assist for the Bulls, a day after finishing with 13 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds in his fifth career triple-double. The All-Star centre rolled his right ankle early in the second half of that game and said it hurt after the game, but he was determined to play Monday in his hometown. The Bulls had dominated the first two meetings and beaten the Nets four straight times, but Brooklyn controlled this one most of the way in improving to 12-2 at home since Chicagos rout here on Christmas Day. "We smashed them in the mouth twice, its never going to be easy to come in to tough-minded team and do it again," Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. The Nets scored the first eight points, the last one on Williams free throw after Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau screamed his way to a technical foul after calling time. Their lead grew to 15, but the Bulls trimmed it to 27-18 by the end of the first quarter. Brooklyn led 50-42 at halftime, and Chicago started the second half just as bad as the first. The Nets scored the first seven to take a 57-42 lead when Williams set up Mason Plumlee for a dunk. "I think we had all intentions to play hard, but like I say, it didnt show," Augustin said. "Being down early, you cant come start the game down, you cant start the second half down, so that was our big mistakes, and then the turnovers killed us." NOTES: The Nets 19 steals were their most since finishing with 20 against Indiana on March 21, 1989. ... Brooklyn hadnt scored more than 23 points in a period against Chicago this season and surpassed that in both the first (27) and third (26). Jack Tatum Jersey . Heck, we might just miss the BCS. Maybe? It sort of worked out this season. Top-ranked Florida State (13-0) was the only team to get through the regular season unbeaten, and the Seminoles did it in dominating fashion. Throwback Raiders Jerseys .The Canadian teenage golf sensation announced Thursday shell join the LPGA Tour in 2015 instead of attending the University of Florida. http://www.officialraidersnflauthenticshop.com/fred-biletnikoff-stitched-jersey/ . Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes, the bandleader of the beard brigade during Bostons run to the 2013 World Series title, said he will be shaving his off before spring training so that he can file it "in the archive" with his memories of the teams improbable championship.SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jonathan Martins early weeks with his new San Francisco 49ers teammates have been spent recovering from mononucleosis and regaining strength zapped by the viral infection. Because he was contagious, Martin initially had to isolate himself for part of this month while sick. That has limited his on-field time during the teams off-season program, and he didnt practice during the voluntary organized team activity Wednesday. "I was working out here for a couple of weeks before I got sick," Martin said. "I was here from the beginning. It was important for me to be with the team and start the program. Its been fun to be around the guys and get to know everybody and learn the offence. Its been great. My teammates are great. The coach is great. So Im excited to get back at it. It kind of stunk to have mono." Martin was traded from the Dolphins to the Niners in mid-March, providing him with a new start after his departure from Miami last October. He accused teammate Richie Incognito of bullying in a scandal that overshadowed the franchises 8-8 season. Martin is aware of Incognitos apologetic posts directed to him on Twitter from March following the veteran offensive linemans earlier rant and harsh comments about Martin. Martin said again Wednesday he is thrilled to be "moving forward" and he hasnt given the situation with Incognito "a second thought." An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Dolphins offensive linemen engaged in persistent harassment of Martin. Incognito was then suspended and missed the final eight games. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick said he hopes a Miami investigation from April that names him will soon be over. Earlier this month, Miami Police released two calls to a 911 dispatcher saying a woman identifying herself as Jesus was lying naked in a bed and refusing to leave. The callers said the woman wanted to spend time with a third man who wasnt there. Police say the players also involved in the case are 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton and Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette. None of them has been charged with any wrongdoing. "Well, the district attorney has the information today," Kaepernick said. "At this point, Im going to let them handle their business. I did nothing wrong in that incident. So, I want to do everything I can to let the DA close this matter. Im very eager to have the matter closed." Coach Jim Harbaugh reiterated Wedneesday he would like the 49ers to re-sign Kaepernick before the season starts, while also acknowledging reaching agreements on long-term commitments can be complicated. Dave Casper Jersey. Kaepernick, who took over as the starter in November 2012 from departed 2005 No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith, would enter the final season of his original rookie deal. "Again, Im hopeful. Im a big proponent of Colin Kaepernick, his abilities. On record as stating that I would like to see that happen. Its a process. I know youve heard me use that word before in many other ways. But, that is not like some of the other examples. Theres a process in place. And itll play out." Kaepernick wouldnt say what he thought would be a "fair" contract, a word he has used regarding his future with the franchise. "Im letting my agents handle all of that and Im worried about being out here trying to get better with my teammates and get ready for the season," Kaepernick said. "Im playing football regardless." And he is thrilled to get to work with his deep receiving corps featuring Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd, who hardly looks as if he just spent a year out of football. Lloyd signed to a one-year contract last month to rejoin the team that drafted him the fourth round in 2003. He caught 105 passes for 1,510 yards and 13 touchdowns for San Francisco from 2003-05. That included leading the team with 48 receptions, 733 yards receiving and five TD catches in 2005. Lloyd has also played for the Washington Redskins (2006-07), Chicago Bears (2008), Denver Broncos (2009-11), St. Louis Rams (2011) and New England Patriots (2012) during his career. "I had seen plays he had made. But, I hadnt seen him on a consistent basis," Kaepernick said. "Coming off of a year off from football, hes been amazing out here. Very smooth, very disciplined with his routes and an easy target to throw to." NOTES: New WR Stevie Johnson sat out Wednesday because "he had a little something hes working through," Harbaugh said without elaborating. ... Whether RG Alex Boone is absent because of his frustration with an unsettled contract situation, Harbaugh wouldnt say. "Ive always chosen, as a policy, not to discuss contracts publicly," he said. ... Also absent: TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore, who has been a regular working out at team headquarters "The workouts are voluntary," Harbaugh said. Cheap Lions Jerseys Cheap Packers Jerseys Cheap Jets Jerseys Cheap Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Patriots Jerseys Cheap Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Titans Jerseys Cheap Chargers Jerseys Cheap Giants Jerseys Cheap Saints Jerseys Cheap Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap 49ers Jerseys Cheap Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Rams Jerseys Cheap Vikings Jerseys Cheap Colts Jerseys ' ' '