Their struggles in New Jersey have been well-chronicled, but until they can rectify a most puzzling situation, it remains a prime storyline. The Nets, who face the Bulls on Monday, have been one of the NBA's surprise teams, hovering around .500. But the real surprise is how they've done it. They've won on the road. They've lost at home. They've been a head-scratching 5-11 in New Jersey.

"I don't know what it is. If I knew, we wouldn't be having this conversation," center Brook Lopez said.

So they'll try to get themselves right again Monday against Chicago, a team that dealt them one of their four road defeats. The Bulls stomped the Nets with a 38-point fourth quarter in a 113-104 victory Dec. 13.

Vince Carter scored a season-high-tying 39 points and Bobby Simmons collected his first and only double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulls put six players in double figures, led by Ben Gordon. Another was Derrick Rose, the No. 1 overall pick who again supplies the game's most intriguing matchup with Nets point guard Devin Harris, as two of the quickest at their position go at it.

NETS 114, BOBCATS 103 (OT): The Nets had a chance to win their second game in five days at the end of regulation, but Devin Harris missed and Vince Carter clanged a desperate follow-up heave. No matter. The Nets simply dominated the overtime, outscoring Charlotte 18-7 to continue their brilliant road play Saturday.

Carter finished with 28 points, Harris had 26 and bench players accounted for 13 of the 18 points in the extra session as the Nets, avenging a home loss to Charlotte the night before, rose to 10-4 on the road.

Gerald Wallace scored 32 for the Bobcats before fouling out.