The Chicago Bulls secured a 136-125 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, overcoming a late-game challenge. Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each led Chicago with 24 points, while Vucevic also pulled down 15 rebounds.
Chicago controlled the game early, holding a 66-55 halftime lead and extending it to 74-60 in the third quarter. Cleveland responded with a strong 27-9 run, fueled by Darius Garland’s season-high 35 points. Garland added four assists during the rally to keep the Cavaliers close.
Despite Cleveland’s effort, the Bulls broke the tie at 115 with a decisive 17-8 run in the fourth quarter. Vucevic contributed seven points in this stretch, including a key go-ahead layup. Chicago’s balanced scoring was notable, with seven players finishing in double figures.
The Cavaliers, missing key players Donovan Mitchell due to illness and Evan Mobley because of a calf injury, struggled to maintain momentum. Rookie Tyrese Proctor impressed in his first NBA start with 16 points, while Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 15 off the bench. Jarrett Allen chipped in with 10 points and four rebounds.
Josh Giddey and Tre Jones also boosted the Bulls’ depth, scoring 17 and 16 points respectively. The win marked Chicago’s first back-to-back victories since November 19 and temporarily halted Cleveland’s downward trend, as the Cavaliers lost their third consecutive game.
The game had a challenging moment when official Tre Maddox injured his leg near the end of the first quarter. The remainder of the contest was officiated by just two referees, Ray Acosta and Phenizee Ransom.
Chicago will look to build on this momentum with a visit to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cleveland aims to rebound at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday. Both teams face critical games as the season progresses.
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