Daily Bulls

The Chicago Bulls lose their first home game of the 2022-2023 season to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 128-96. After a slow start by Cleveland, they responded by taking demand of the game led by Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell finished the game with 32 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. In Zach Lavine’s first game, he led the Bulls with team-high 23 points in 28 minutes. DeMar DeRozan scored 13 points on 3-for-9 shooting and got ejected during the fourth quarter.

4 Takeaways from Bulls loss

1. Cavs get hot after slow start

Cleveland got down early, losing 12-5. But once Cedi Osman entered the game, he provided the spark for the Cavaliers to take control of the game. They caught fire, shooting 62.8% from the field in the first half, with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley combining for 29 points. The more impressive stat was Cleveland shooting a ridiculous 71.4% from three in the first half.

By the time Chicago tried to fight to get back in the game. The shooting damage was done, and Cleveland kept hitting shots at the right moments to stop the chances of a Bulls comeback. Six players for the Cavaliers finished double-digits, Mitchell with 32 points, Mobley with 16 points, and LeVert with 14. Cedi Osman and Kevin Love got 15 points each, and former Bull Robin Lopez scored 12 points. Osman was critical for Cleveland as he finished the game with a plus/minus of +41.

2. Cold Shooting Night for Chicago

The Bulls started the game by making five out of their six shots in the five minutes of action. But the Bulls only made 6 out of 17 shots for the rest of the first quarter. If you want to compete for the best of the NBA, you have to make threes, and the Bulls went ice cold, going 7-for-29 from three. Nikola Vucevic hit a couple of threes to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 11. After a couple of DeMar DeRozan free throws, the Cavaliers responded with a wide-open three by Kevin Love and a floater by Donavon Mitchell, boosting their lead to 89-75 with 2:28 left in the third quarter.

Chicago would go on to finish the game shooting 40.5% from the field. Only three players scored in double-digits for the Bulls, Lavine with 23. Vucevic got 16 points, and DeRozan got 13.

3. Vucevic, Lavine or DeRozan must be in the game

After Nikola Vucevic, Zach Lavine, and DeMar DeRozan exited the game with 1:26 left during the first quarter to get some rest, with the score of 27-23, the Cavaliers up. Cleveland took advantage fast and went on a 24-9 run with the Bulls’ big three on the bench. By the time DeRozan got back in the game, Chicago was down 51-33, and the damage was done. The Bulls couldn’t get the Cavaliers lead within nine.

The lineup that ultimately cost the Bulls a chance of winning the game was Goran Dragic, Coby White, Alex Caruso, Derrick Jones Jr, and Andre Drummond. For some reason, Billy Donavon decided to play Jones Jr for the first time all season. This lineup did alright during the preseason but failed during this game, and was no ball movement. No one was moving without the ball, leading to the Cavaliers taking advantage with their starters on the court.

4. Incoming Bulls Starting Lineup Change?

After three games and Javonte Green having a great preseason, Green should be starting Monday night. Once Green replaced Williams in the third quarter, Chicago seemed to play with more pace and energy with Green. The Bulls were able to cut the lead down to nine points. But Chicago could not get enough stops and make any shots to get back in the game. Seeing Green help provide a spark for the starters is what could lead to a lineup change for Monday night.

Patrick Williams played for only 15 minutes and scored six points on 2-for-7 shooting. If Williams came off the bench, he would have a better chance of getting more scoring opportunities. But in the starting lineup, he is probably the fourth-best scoring option on the team, and with Lonzo Ball in the lineup, he is the worst scoring option in the starting lineup. Williams might get the start on Monday just because of guarding Celtics star Jayson Tatum. But expect Green to get more minutes to provide a boost for the starters.

Final Thoughts

Zach Lavine Shines

Many Bulls fans will look more at the negatives, and one of the few positives was the return of Zach Lavine against the Cavaliers. Lavine got going early with a step-back three and letting Bulls fans know he was back. He finished the game by making 9 out of 17 shots. But expect Lavine to play on Monday and Wednesday. But with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday, Lavine could miss one of those games. The Friday night game in San Antonio would likely be the game he misses. Remember, doctors, decide if he can play, not Lavine.

Cavaliers get first win of 2022-23 season

The Cavaliers will have to be ready since they will be playing the second half of back-to-back games. After a disappointing loss against Toronto on Wednesday, the Cavaliers got a must needed win against the Bulls. Donovan Mitchell got his first win in a Cavaliers jersey and will get a warm welcome in Cleveland when they face the Wizards. Cleveland will be facing Washington.

Up Next

Chicago will host Boston on Monday.

Cleveland will have their home opener on Sunday against Washington.

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