The Chicago Bulls lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a score of 122 to 128, showcasing intense rivalry and the absence of key players.

On the second night of a back-to-back, the Chicago Bulls fall to yet another division rival in the Cleveland Cavaliers, losing 122 to 128.

Both teams were without key guards, as Coby White and Darius Garland were both sidelined for the contest. This was Josh Giddey’s first time facing the Cavaliers after being benched against them last season. It was an extreme low point in Giddey’s career, to the point where he even stated he wouldn’t have played himself either. Since then, Giddey has drastically improved his performance on both offense and defense.

Rocky Start

The Cavaliers kicked off the game, going on an 8 – 0 run led by forward D’Andre Hunter. When the game started to look bleak, Kevin Huerter subbed in and immediately secured a steal. Giddey followed with a layup, scoring the Bulls’ first basket at the 9:10 mark in the first quarter. From there, the Bulls rallied back to tie the game at 15 points apiece.

Former Cavalier Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams played a huge role in this through their shot-making and defensive intensity. Despite the Cavaliers consistently going on runs, the Bulls made sure to respond with a run of their own, finishing the quarter three points behind the Cavaliers.

Story continues below.

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Cavaliers Begin to lose in Battle

As the second quarter came around, the gritty Bulls team was firing on all cylinders. From three pointers to getting to the free-throw line, Chicago got whatever it wanted. In the first half of the quarter, the Bulls were on a 23 – 5 point run.

A driving factor of the Bulls’ performance once again stems from the key bench players in Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and Jalen Smith. All three came out and contributed to three-point shooting, while Giddey converted primarily from the charity stripe. Some may point to reasoning behind the run due to Cleveland’s bad three-point shooting and lack of foul calls, but that has no impact on whether Chicago’s ability to score. Bulls close the first half with a 16-point lead.

Bulls and Cavaliers Swap Places

All-Star Donovan Mitchell came into the second half, ensuring his presence was felt in the game, knocking down any shots beyond the arc. Mitchell scored 26 points in the second half, ensuring Cleveland’s victory.

To add insult to injury, Josh Giddey had to exit the game after tweaking his ankle on the defensive end. Eventually, Giddey returned to the court but did not look the same as he played extremely passively compared to his usual self, attacking the rim.

The Bulls fall to 6-3, tied for the third seed with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Sophomore Matas Buzelis continues his inconsistent start to the season as he only scored four points against the Cavaliers. The Bulls will need Buzelis to play at a higher level if they want to remain competitive.

What’s On Tap Next

The Chicago Bulls’ next chance to add to the wins column will be on Monday, November 10th, at home in the United Center against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs. Tip-off is at 7 pm CT and will air on CHSN.