Chicago Bulls Defeat Cleveland Cavaliers 127–111 at Home, Halt Skid and Tighten Eastern Playoff Race
The Chicago Bulls protected their home court with a convincing 127–111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, snapping their recent losing streak while handing the Cavaliers a second straight defeat. Following this game, Cleveland’s record slipped to 15–13, placing them ninth in the Eastern Conference, while Chicago improved to 11–15 and climbed to tenth. The two teams remain locked in a close battle for playoff positioning in a highly competitive Eastern Conference.
The Cavaliers got off to a strong start behind the perimeter firepower of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, quickly establishing an early lead. Midway through the first quarter, consecutive three-pointers from Garland and Tyson helped Cleveland stretch the margin to 28–16. The Bulls, however, stayed composed. Their bench unit closed the quarter with a 12–6 run, trimming the deficit to just one point. At the end of the opening quarter, the Cavaliers held a narrow 34–33 advantage.
Chicago seized control in the second quarter. A quick 7–0 burst led by Isaac Okoro and Jalen Smith helped the Bulls take the lead, and from there they began to dictate the tempo. Nikola Vučević and Josh Giddey emerged as offensive focal points, while Kevin Huerter knocked down a timely three-pointer from the outside. Although Jarrett Allen and Tyson attempted to keep Cleveland within striking distance, Giddey drained a buzzer-beating three just before halftime, sending the Bulls into the locker room with a 62–58 lead.
After the break, Chicago fully asserted its dominance. Early in the third quarter, Vučević and Coby White connected on back-to-back three-pointers, while Giddey continued to orchestrate the offense with sharp passing. The Bulls went on a 15–4 run to push their lead into double digits. Mitchell responded with a three to stop the bleeding, but White immediately answered with a clutch shot of his own, stabilizing the momentum. White was the standout of the quarter, scoring 12 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance. After three quarters, Chicago maintained a 95–88 advantage.
In the final period, the Bulls left no room for a Cavaliers comeback. Giddey stayed hot with another three-pointer, Vučević repeatedly capitalized inside, and Torrey Craig Jones (Jones) provided crucial playmaking, setting up Matas Buzelis for easy finishes at the rim. As the game entered its closing moments, Huerter buried a dagger three-pointer that effectively sealed the outcome and extinguished any remaining hope of a Cleveland rally. Chicago ultimately cruised to a 16-point victory.
From a statistical standpoint, the Bulls showcased superior offensive efficiency and stronger team cohesion. They shot an impressive 56% from the field (50-of-89) and 39% from beyond the arc (14-of-36), outperforming the Cavaliers in both categories. Chicago also held clear advantages in assists (35) and steals (12), underscoring their collective effort and activity on both ends of the floor. Cleveland, despite Mitchell’s game-high 32 points, struggled from long range, shooting just 31% (12-of-39) from three-point territory, and committed 20 turnovers—key factors in their defeat.
Several Bulls players delivered standout performances. White scored 25 points, Giddey recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Vučević added a steady 20 points and 9 rebounds. Off the bench, Jones contributed an impressive 11 points and 11 assists. This balanced, multi-pronged attack exemplified the team-oriented basketball that enabled Chicago to overcome a strong opponent.
This victory not only boosts the Bulls’ morale but also intensifies the race for the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference. With a demanding schedule ahead, both teams will be tested in the weeks to come, and finding consistency will be critical as they push through the second half of the season in pursuit of postseason contention.
