The Chicago Bulls handled their business (barely) against the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday night. The undermanned Cavs weren’t able to overcome being without three of their starters against Chicago, eventually falling to the Bulls 106-94 in Quicken Loans Arena. The loss snapped Cleveland’s nine-game winning streak at The Q.
“I had a lot of combinations out there that guys were not used to playing with, but I just thought we competed,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. “We played hard and we just kept fighting.”
The Cavs (26-8) were without Kyrie Irving (right hamstring tightness), Kevin Love (food poisoning), J.R. Smith (fractured thumb) and Chris Andersen (torn ACL) Wednesday, firepower that was sorely missed. Mike Dunleavy dressed for Cleveland but never entered the game against Chicago, as he continues to nurse a right ankle sprain. Minus five key players, the Bulls (18-18) did just enough to sneak out of Cleveland with a victory. …show more content…
Frye also played and started in place of Love, finishing with 15 points and five rebounds.
Entering Wednesday, the Bulls had lost 11 of their last 17 games since defeating the Cavs in Chicago on Dec. 2. That loss in Chicago was the Cavs’ third straight, which is their longest losing streak of the season. Since that loss to the Bulls last month, the Cavs have traveled in the opposite direction of Chicago, winning 13 of their next 15 games.
Wednesday night, however, McDermott’s solid play off the bench and some late Jimmy Butler scoring helped Chicago take a 2-0 season series lead over Cleveland. The Creighton product finished with 17 points and six rebounds, while Butler added 20 points, six rebounds and eight
“I had a lot of combinations out there that guys were not used to playing with, but I just thought we competed,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. “We played hard and we just kept fighting.”
The Cavs (26-8) were without Kyrie Irving (right hamstring tightness), Kevin Love (food poisoning), J.R. Smith (fractured thumb) and Chris Andersen (torn ACL) Wednesday, firepower that was sorely missed. Mike Dunleavy dressed for Cleveland but never entered the game against Chicago, as he continues to nurse a right ankle sprain. Minus five key players, the Bulls (18-18) did just enough to sneak out of Cleveland with a victory. …show more content…
Frye also played and started in place of Love, finishing with 15 points and five rebounds.
Entering Wednesday, the Bulls had lost 11 of their last 17 games since defeating the Cavs in Chicago on Dec. 2. That loss in Chicago was the Cavs’ third straight, which is their longest losing streak of the season. Since that loss to the Bulls last month, the Cavs have traveled in the opposite direction of Chicago, winning 13 of their next 15 games.
Wednesday night, however, McDermott’s solid play off the bench and some late Jimmy Butler scoring helped Chicago take a 2-0 season series lead over Cleveland. The Creighton product finished with 17 points and six rebounds, while Butler added 20 points, six rebounds and eight