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Wendell Carter Jr. added 17 points on 7-of-9
shooting for Chicago, which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr. and Denzel Valentine finished
with 15 points apiece.
Collin Sexton scored a game-high 26 points on 12-of-16 shooting
for Cleveland. Andre Drummond had 21 points and Larry Nance Jr.
scored 16, but it was not enough as the Cavaliers fell short
several hours after head coach J.B. Bickerstaff signed a
multi-year extension.
The Cavaliers trimmed the deficit to 105-103 with 38.3 seconds
to go after Drummond tipped in a shot, but Chicago hung on
thanks to a pair of free throws by Shaquille Harrison and
another free throw by Carter.
An 11-2 run gave Chicago a 94-85 lead with 6:54 to go. Porter
converted a three-point play to unlock an 83-83 tie, and
Valentine buried a 3-pointer on the next Bulls' possession to
fuel the decisive run. Carter added a layup and Tomas Satoransky
knocked down a 3-pointer to give the Bulls momentum down the
stretch.
The score was tied at 78 entering the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer by White gave the Bulls a 76-69 advantage with 2:43
to go in the third quarter. It was the second long-distance shot
of the game for the rookie from North Carolina, who boosted his
3-point total to 133 for the season.
The Cavaliers finished the third quarter on a 9-2 run to erase
the deficit. Alfonzo McKinnie started the rally with a dunk off
an assist from Nance, and Drummond followed with back-to-back
baskets on a layup and a tip-in shot.
Nance and McKinnie combined for three free throws in the final
34.4 seconds of the period as Cleveland closed the gap.
Chicago held a 54-52 halftime lead.
The second quarter included a 2:04 stretch in which neither team
scored a point. The Cavaliers missed five consecutive shots
during the drought, and the Bulls missed three in a row before
White finally made a basket to even the score at 35 with 7:22
remaining.
--Field Level Media
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