Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each scored 24 points as the Chicago Bulls (12-15) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 136-125 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers (15-14) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday night. Vucevic added 15 rebounds, including six in the decisive final period, helping Chicago win consecutive games for the first time since November 19.
Seven Bulls players scored in double figures, with Josh Giddey contributing 17 points and Tre Jones adding 16 off the bench. Chicago built a 66-55 halftime lead and extended it to 74-60 early in the third quarter before Cleveland rallied with a 27-9 run, highlighted by nine points from Darius Garland.
Garland finished with a season-high 35 points, while rookie Tyrese Proctor added 16 points in his first NBA start. Nae’Qwan Tomlin chipped in 15 off the bench, but the Cavaliers struggled without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and forward Evan Mobley, who is sidelined with a calf injury.
Chicago regained control with a 17-8 run in the fourth, with Vucevic scoring seven points, including the go-ahead layup. The Bulls connected on 52% of their field goals and 38% from three-point range, outpacing Cleveland’s 48% shooting and 36% from beyond the arc.
The game started with Cleveland scoring the first 11 points, but Chicago responded with a 6-0 spurt to cut the deficit. An injury to official Tre Maddox at the end of the first quarter reduced the crew to two referees for the remainder of the contest.
The Bulls improve to 12-15 and will visit the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, while the Cavaliers drop to 15-14 and host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
