Another Home Setback, Cavs Fall 136–125

*** With the end of the calendar year rapidly approaching, the Cavaliers are still searching for the secret sauce that propelled them to the top of the Eastern Conference last year – falling to Chicago for the second time this week and dropping their fourth home contest in the last five games with Friday’s 136-125 loss at Rocket Arena. 

The shorthanded Cavaliers – playing without Donovan Mitchell, out with an illness – trailed by 14 points early in the third quarter before mounting a comeback that saw them take the lead later in the period. In the fourth, Cleveland tied the affair twice, but could never get over the hump, as the Bulls pulled away late to hand the Wine & Gold their third straight loss. 

Darius Garland had his most productive game of the season, three Cavaliers notched double-figure scoring off the bench and Tyrese Proctor had the best game of his already impressive rookie year, but it wasn’t enough against a Bulls team that featured seven players in double-figures, including Nikola Vucevic and Matas Buzelis, who finished with 24 points apiece. 

Garland led both teams with his season-high 35-point effort, going 13-for-27 from the floor, including 6-of-12 from long-range, adding a team-high eight assists in the loss. 

Making the first start of his career, Proctor followed up with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-8 from deep, adding six boards, three assists and a steal in 27 outstanding minutes of work. 

“I thought our energy and our spirit was good,” said Coach Kenny Atkinson following the loss. “Tyrese was a guy who hasn't played in a while, but he was really good, had great energy. I'm glad we went with him in the starting lineup. He gave us a boost. He’s obviously very skilled and it gave us another ball-handler.” 

Jarrett Allen, in just his third game back after missing the previous six with separate finger injuries, notched his fifth double-double of the season – and first since mid-November – finishing with 14 points and a team-best 12 rebounds, adding five helpers, a pair of steals and Cleveland’s lone blocked shot. 

Overall, the Cavs shot 48 percent from the floor, handed out 31 assists and piled up 62 points in the paint. But transition defense was an issue once again, with Chicago outscoring Cleveland, 20-7, on the break. On the night, the Bulls shot 52 percent from the field, drilled 18 triples and finished with 34 assists of their own in the win. 

*** The Cavs got outstanding offensive production off the bench on Friday – with three of their five reserves tallying double figures and the group combining for 49 points. 

Nae’Qwan Tomlin led the way with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting, followed by DeAndre Hunter and Thomas Bryant, who notched 11 points apiece. Lonzo Ball was 3-of-4 from the floor for eight points and handed out a team-high-tying eight dimes in 28 minutes of action. 

*** After falling to the Bulls on Friday night, the Wine & Gold play two more at home – a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday against the Hornets and Pelicans, before hitting the road for three, beginning with a big Christmas Day matchup with the Knicks in New York. From there, it’s a tough Texas two-step – taking on the Rockets next Saturday followed by a meeting with the Spurs in San Antonio two nights later. Cleveland returns home to close out the calendar year next Wednesday afternoon when the Suns come to Cleveland on New Year’s Eve.