CHICAGO -- The Brooklyn Nets looked like a team that wanted to win Monday.

That hasn't always been the case this season. Just the day before, the Nets had lost at home to the Minnesota Timberwolves after scoring only 16 points in the opening quarter.

The Nets opened Monday's game against the Chicago Bulls with a greater effort, and it paid off in a 105-102 victory at the United Center. The Nets snapped a five-game losing streak and notched their second road win of the season.

"I thought that we came out right from the start with a lot of fight and a lot of purpose," said Nets coach Lionel Hollins, whose team improved to 8-20 on the season. "We took the fight to them.

"We were very focused tonight for the whole game, and that was good to see. I thought we would come back and play much better. I couldn't guarantee a win, but I thought we would come back and play. I'm just happy and proud of these guys."

The Nets had been on an eight-game road losing streak. They improved to 2-12 on the road for the season. Their only other road win came against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 11.

The Nets took control in the third quarter. With the game tied at 60, the Nets went on 21-9 run, which was capped by a 3-pointer by guard Bojan Bogdanovic with 4:38 remaining. The Bulls shot 10 of 28 in the third quarter. The Nets never relinquished their lead again.

The Bulls (15-11) pulled within 101-99 with two free throws by center Pau Gasol with 20.9 seconds remaining. Nets guard Jarrett Jack and center Brook Lopez sank four free throws in the final 10.6 seconds to secure the win.

The Bulls were hoping for a better effort themselves Monday following losses to the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks. Instead, they dropped their third consecutive game, matching their longest losing streak of the season. They also fell to 11-5 at home with their second straight loss at the United Center.

"It's very disappointing that we couldn't come out," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "This is a tough loss. You got to win your home games. We've dropped a couple in a row now. It's a bad, bad loss."

Forward Thaddeus Young and Lopez were effective inside for the Nets. Lopez scored 14 his team-high 21 points in the second half. He also had 12 rebounds and three blocks. Young had 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The two players also combined for nine of the Nets' 15 offensive rebounds, and Brooklyn outscored the Bulls 16-11 on second-chance points.

"It's huge," Lopez said of the second-chance points. "It's something we really haven't been getting this year. It starts with me obviously. Like I said, it was great to have such high energy from virtually everyone on the team."

Gasol felt the Bulls didn't match at times what the Nets were bringing on the court.

"I think we were missing a lot of parts of the game tonight," Gasol said. "A sense of urgency. We cruise for most of the game. Then when we have our back against the wall, we turn it up and try to give ourselves a chance. But sometimes it's just too late. It's something we need to address and need to correct and improve upon. We just need change."

Bulls guard Jimmy Butler scored a game-high 24 points on 11 of 20 shooting. Gasol added 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Chicago also got contributions from forward Taj Gibson (10 points, nine rebounds) and forward Doug McDermott (11 points).

Nets guard Wayne Ellington (13 points), forward Joe Johnson (12), Bogdanovic (12) and Willie Reed (11) also scored in double figures. Jack had eight assists.

Bulls center Joakim Noah left the game with a left shoulder sprain in the final minute of the third quarter and did not return. He had four points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Hoiberg said Noah will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

NOTES: Nikola Mirotic replaced Tony Snell at small forward in the Bulls' starting lineup. Mirotic started previously at power forward this season, but not at small forward. ... Bulls F/C Pau Gasol returned to the lineup after he sat out Saturday's game against the New York Knicks. He rested after the Bulls played four overtimes against the Detroit Pistons on Friday. ... Nets G Shane Larkin missed his fourth consecutive game with a concussion. He hasn't played since Dec. 14. ... The Nets were also without F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (fractured right ankle) and F Chris McCullough (right knee rehab).