The Chicago Bulls went to Cleveland to take on the LeBron-less Cavaliers on Saturday night. The Bulls were trying to get to a game above .500, and the game was on primetime television, so they had a shot. Here’s a little rundown of what happened.
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LeBron James and Kevin Love were both out for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cameron Payne and Joffrey Lauvergne both made their debuts tonight for the Chicago Bulls. Payne played 12 minutes, scoring six points on 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc. Lauvergne played two minutes, doing nothing noteworthy.
The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 117-99 because of course they did. Tonight was a nationally televised game, and somehow Chicago always manages to win those games.
Fred Hoiberg returned Jerian Grant into the starting lineup over Michael Carter-Williams, a treat to our eyes. Grant offers better shooting from the outside and doesn’t frequently brick shots off the side of the backboard, a welcome sight for sore eyes.
The first half was up and down, and the Bulls went into the break trailing by one. Rajon Rondo had eight points, and made both of his free throws (!) in the first half. He played well, as he tends to when playing on primetime television.
Rondo also hit this ridiculous garbage to end the third quarter, putting the Bulls up 15 heading into the fourth quarter.
Jimmy Butler was phenomenal despite another poor shooting performance, hanging a triple double on the Cavs. Butler finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds and assists on 7-of-19 shooting.
Dwyane Wade —while continuing to not care about defense — almost finished with a triple-double, but Cristiano Felicio robbed him of rebound number 10. Wade finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and ten assists.
More impressively, Chicago hit more 3-pointers than the Cleveland. The Bulls converted 15 3s, and Denzel Valentine added another three triples to his tally. Valentine continued to impress in his increased playing time, a welcome sight next to this putrid guard play.
Kyle Korver moved into fifth all time in 3-pointers made tonight, fittingly coming against Chicago. Always nice to see players traded for next to nothing doing well for other teams.
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Nikola Mirotic played well again, dropping a double-double. Will the real Niko please stand up? The Bulls would really like to know so they know what to do going forward.
Chicago won again and will now overtake the Indiana Pacers for the sixth seed in the East.
So it goes.