| Advertisement |
CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 34 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted the Chicago Bulls 115-112 on Thursday night. Kevin Love added 27 points and seven rebounds for the Cavaliers, who don't play again until their NBA Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors on Christmas.
Advertisement
The Bulls had their seven-game winning streak snapped. Lauri Markannen led them with 25 points. This was the first game Chicago lost this season with Nikola Mirotic on the court. He scored 15 points off the bench. Denzel Valentine added 18 points and Kris Dunn recorded a season-high 14 assists for the Bulls.
The Cavs received 15 points from Kyle Korver and 10 each from Dwyane Wade and Jeff Green. They've won 19 of 21 games and have scored at least 100 points in 26 straight.
Green dribbled the length of the floor and knocked down a 22-footer over Mirotic as time expired in the third quarter to give Cleveland an 82-79 advantage. There were already 24 lead changes by the end of the third period and 26 for the game.
James scored 11 in the fourth quarter. His two free throws with 11.1 seconds left put the Cavs ahead by three.
Cleveland was ahead by as many as eight in the first half and led 58-56 at halftime. James scored 16 and Love added 13 points. Markannen paced the Bulls with 11 points, and showed his previously sore back seems to be OK with a nasty dunk over Jae Crowder with 52 seconds in the second quarter. The dunk capped an 8-0 Chicago run and tied the game at 56.
Markannen missed three games last week due to the back issue.
NOTES: Cavs PG Isaiah Thomas was officially ruled out of Cleveland's Christmas tilt with the Warriors by coach Tyronn Lue on Thursday. Thomas, a two-time All-Star, has yet to play for Cleveland because of hip injuries suffered last season with the Celtics, but is nearing his debut. He was assigned to the Cavs' G League affiliate to practice Thursday. Thomas then dressed in his Cavs uniform and warmed up before the game against the Bulls for the first time this season. ... Speaking of Lue, he was a late scratch Thursday because of an undisclosed illness that must've come on after he spoke to reporters in his usual pregame spot. Larry Drew took Lue's place. ... Cavs G J.R. Smith was held out of Thursday's game with left knee soreness. ... Injured Bulls guards Zach LaVine (left ACL) and Cameron Payne (right foot) will do non-contact drills Friday when the team travels to Boston, according to the Chicago Tribune. Both players are weeks away from a return, and LaVine is set to play before Payne, the Tribune reports. ... The Bulls are the first team in NBA history to win seven in a row immediately after losing 10 straight.
