The NBA leading Cleveland Cavaliers defeated twice the Chicago Bulls during a season opening 15-match winning line.
On Tuesday, they hope to extend their latest double -digit increase at the expense of host Chicago.
Cleveland has a 10-match winning line in the matchup with the struggling bulls, its third run this season of at least so many matches.
While Cavaliers became the first NBA team this season that earned 50 wins, their latest spurt contains some news. Cleveland played its first overtime game on the season Sunday and edged the Portland Trail Blazers 133-129. De’andre Hunter contributed 32 points on 8-for-15 shooting as a leading goal scorer Donovan Mitchell (24.3 points a game) was held to rest.
Cavs has also needed to channel its comeback ability recently; They have won matches in a row after releasing with 18 points or more for the first time since the 1997-98 season.
Cleveland hopes to play from the front against Chicago while he ideally finds a rhythm both offensive and overall. Cavaliers felt limited during Sunday’s game, which contained a combined 53 personal fouls and 70 free throw.
It also presented Cleveland with another wrinkle.
“There are many whistles out there (Sunday), but I think we did a good job of playing through it and not letting it affect our playing field,” Hunter said.
Although he lost eight of his last ten games, Bulls entered on Monday with a two-game lead at Philadelphia for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and the last place in the East Play-in tournament. Brooklyn (2 1/2 plays out) and Toronto (five) are also hunting.
After collecting from a 16-point deficit for the fourth quarter to top-visiting Toronto on Friday, Chicago fought into the route of a loss of 127-112 in Indiana. Problems with physics and finishing in the final stages resurfaced for the bulls.
Missing Big Man Nikola Vucevic (right calf density) for the fourth straight game was Chicago Outscored 32-20 during the fourth quarter. The Bulls coach Billy Donovan said the team must speed up their toughness no matter when Vucevic returns to the Lineup, which can come as soon as Tuesday.
“We have to get better,” Donovan said. “Some of our younger guys who are exposed in these situations, close to the basket, solve balls, jump ball situations. … the types of things we need to get better at. … Some of these teams when they look to change speed in a game, generally that you change speed in a game is not by making shots – even if it helps – it is generally the physical.” “
On average, Coby White has an average of 25 points in the last two games for Bulls.
Cleveland will strive to maintain its latest dominance in the series.
Cavaliers have won nine of the last ten meetings between the Central Division Rivals, including victories with six and 18 points in Chicago and Cleveland in mid-November.
Mitchell burned Cavs’ 15 November home victory with 37 points to Outduel White, who received 29.
Vucevic was an average of 23 points and 9.7 returns in his last three matches against Cleveland.
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