The Chicago Bulls kept their winning streak when they play a nationally televised game on TNT going with a 99-93 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is the 20th straight game that the Bulls have won when they’ve been shown on TNT.
As for the Cavaliers I’m sure they just want this month to end. The Cavaliers are 6-10 in the month of March. This was also the Cavaliers 3rd loss in a row and they are 4-6 in their last 10 games.
The Bulls got off to a quick start taking a six point lead by scoring eight of the games first 10 points. Chicago added a point to the lead at 11-4 before Cleveland went on a 12 to 3 run to take a 16-14 lead. From there the teams traded the lead five times and the game was tied twice before the Cavaliers where able to the final six points of the quarter to take a 28-22 lead after one quarter.
Kevin Love gave the Cavaliers a double digit lead at 34-24 early in the 2nd quarter when he hit a jumper with 10:52 left to play. Chicago was ale to cut the lead back into single digits, but the closest they could get in the quarter was four points at 38-34 with 6:46 left to play. Cleveland added five points to their lead before halftime and they went into the half ahead 50-41.
Cleveland got their double digit lead back when Kyrie Irving hit a 3-pointer with 9:57 left in the 3rd quarter to put the Cavaliers up 55-45. Chicago then went on a 12 to 2 run to tie the game at 57 all. The score was tied one more time and the teams traded the lead three times before Cleveland built a six point lead with 4:13 left in the quarter. The Bulls finished the quarter on an 18 to 5 run to take a 78-71 lead going into the final quarter.
The Cavaliers where able to cut the Bulls lead to two points early in the 4th quarter, but the Bulls where able to push the lead back to 10 points at 88-78 with 6:48 left to play when Jimmy Butler hit a 3-pointer. The Cavaliers did cut the lead to five points with 1:02 left in the game, but that was as close as they could get as the Bulls where able to retain their lead and pick up a 99-93 victory.
Nikola Mirotic was the games top scorer with 28 points. Mirotic also grabbed 10 rebounds. Jimmy Butler added 25 points while Robin Lopez scored 10 points and grabbed a game high 11 rebounds. Denzel Valentine was the only Bulls bench player to reach double figures with 12 points. Rajon Rondo also handed out a game high 15 assists for the Bulls.
LeBron James posted a double-double as he scored 26 points; tied for his teams lead in rebounds with 10 and also handed out a team high 8 assists. Kyrie Irving added 20 points while Tristan Thompson (15 points) and J.R. Smith (12 points) both reached double figures. Kevin Love grabbed 10 rebounds to tie for the team lead.
The Bulls improved to 36-39 with the win, but are still a game out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago has won three of their last four games and have won the last two in a row. The Bulls get a day off before they host the 39-36 Atlanta Hawks on Saturday afternoon. The loss keeps the Cavaliers 1/2 game out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Believe it or not the Cavaliers bad month isn’t over as they have to face the 28-47 Philadelphia 76ers tonight in Cleveland.
On a side note the Bulls are 4-0 against the Cavaliers this season.
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