By: Betty Cantley
Cleveland, OH – The Central Division rivalry game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls was a high-drama affair with a stunning comeback. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the previously red-hot Chicago Bulls at home, extending the Cavaliers’ winning streak to four games, with the final score Cleveland 128, Chicago 122.
Key Game Story: A 19-point comeback. The Bulls looked dominant early, racing to a 72-56 lead at halftime and leading by as many as 19 points in the second quarter.
The Cavaliers were playing without point guard Darius Garland, staged an epic rally, fueled by a massive second half from their superstar and a huge third quarter.
The Cavaliers closed the game on a 12-0 run in the final 1:47 to secure the win.
Cleveland Cavaliers Key Performers:
• Donovan Mitchell with 29 points, 6
rebounds, 6 assists, scored 26 of his
29 points in the second half, including
The final 8 points for the Cavaliers.
• De’Andre Hunter had a career-high/
season high of 29 points, which was a
secondary scoring and defensive effort
to keep the Cavaliers in the game.
• Evan Mobley with 24 points, 8
rebounds, 5 assists, had an excellent
two-way, especially during the Cavs’
40-point third quarter.
Chicago Bulls Lead Performers:
• Isaac Okoro had 19 points. He led a
balanced scoring effort for the Bulls
(seven players in double figures).
• Jalen Smith with 18 points, 11 re-
bounds, an impressive double-double
off the bench, helping the Bulls build
their big first-half lead.
• Josh Giddey with 15 points, 9 re-
bounds, 6 assists, he may have filled
the stat sheet, but struggled with
efficiency (5-18 FG).
The Chicago Bulls’ loss drops their record to 6-3 in the season, giving them their second consecutive loss after starting the season 6-0. They struggled with Cleveland’s perimeter defense late and couldn’t contain Mitchell’s burst.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers improve 7-3.