Make it three wins in a row as the Cavaliers produced one of their better defensive performances of the season in routing the Chicago Bulls 108-94 on Monday night at The Q on Martin Luther King Night.
If this was an Eastern Conference Finals preview, Chicago (27-16) can’t like its chances.
Cleveland (22-20) dominated with toughness, grit, physicality and passion as it held the Bulls to 37 percent from the field. It’s the second-lowest percentage the Cavs have held an opponent to this season.
Cavs coach David Blatt said he added some new wrinkles defensively to fit the new personnel, and it was visible. The perimeter players were given the freedom to be aggressive, knowing there was help on the back side.
Newly acquired center Timofey Mozgov served as the enforcer, protecting the paint and swatting away layup attempt after layup attempt. It was exactly the style of play Cavs general manager David Griffin envisioned when he made the moves to bring in Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert.
Bulls star Derrick Rose felt the difference. All game long he was denied access to the basket in halfcourt sets. Cavs guard Kyrie Irving did a great job in shading him to where there was help. Rose was 5-of-14 from the field for 18 points in 30 minutes.
Cleveland improved to 12-9 at home and leads the season series against Chicago, 2-0.
A balanced offensive attack led to all five starters scoring in double figures, led by LeBron James who had a game-high 24 points along with four rebounds and four assists. Smith supplied 20 points. Irving registered 18 points, four boards and a game-high 12 assists. Kevin Love finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Mozgov had a monster evening. He provided 15 points, a game-high 15 rebounds and two blocks in his first game at Quicken Loans Arena as a member of the Cavaliers.
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