CHICAGO — In an impressive performance, Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 119-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls, marking a season-high with 36 points on Monday night. This win allowed the Cavaliers to join the ranks of eight other NBA teams that have started their season with twelve consecutive victories.
Darius Garland contributed to the success with 17 points, while Evan Mobley added 15 points along with 11 rebounds. The Cavaliers continued to show their scoring prowess, reaching at least 110 points for the eleventh time this season. In the critical closing moments, Garland secured the win with a layup with only 24 seconds remaining, followed by Mitchell who sealed the game with two successful free throws.
On the other side, Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points, but unfortunately, it was their fifth loss in six games. Both Coby White and Nikola Vucevic supported the effort with 20 points apiece. Chicago initially took control, leading by nine points late in the third quarter, but once again, Cleveland demonstrated their resilience by bouncing back late in the game.
In a notable similarity to their previous game where they triumphed 105-100 over Brooklyn, the Cavaliers managed to rally from a challenging position once more. Their bench players provided crucial support, with Georges Niang, Ty Jerome, and Caris LeVert each contributing 12 points.
In terms of injury updates, Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball, recovering from a right wrist sprain, is no longer wearing a brace and is anticipated to begin practice that includes dribbling exercises, a positive development for the team.
A pivotal moment came when Mobley executed an alley-oop layup that brought Cleveland ahead 52-42 in the second quarter. However, the Bulls quickly regrouped, orchestrating a stunning 14-2 run to claim a brief 56-54 lead.
A glaring statistic that stood out in the game was the 20 turnovers committed by the Bulls, in stark contrast to just eight from the Cavaliers, highlighting a crucial aspect of the game that ultimately influenced the outcome.
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers are set to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, while the Bulls will hit the road to challenge the New York Knicks.