At the conclusion of a dramatic day that saw them deal their longest-tenured veteran, the Wine and Gold started the season’s unofficial second half the way they finished the first one – holding an opponent at bay for three quarters and polishing them off in the fourth.
On Thursday, the Cavaliers outlasted a shorthanded Bulls squad, earning their first win of the season against their Central Division foes – a decisive 106-95 decision at Quicken Loans Arena.
Earlier in the day, Cleveland made a deal just hours before the Trade Deadline – sending Anderson Varejao and a protected pick to the Blazers in exchange for a second rounder. The Cavaliers then paired that pick with Jared Cunningham to acquire Channing Frye from the Orlando Magic.
Frye, a 10-year veteran, was not in uniform for Thursday’s matchup with Chicago, but he’ll join the Wine and Gold at some point this weekend before they take on a red-hot Thunder team on Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City.
In their third meeting this season, the Cavaliers jumped on the struggling Bulls early and didn’t let up. Chicago was again without the services of All-Star forward Jimmy Butler as well as reserves Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noah.
The Bulls lead only once – on Derrick Rose’s 20-foot jumper to start the scoring at 2-0. LeBron James scored on a floater to tie the game and a putback to give Cleveland a lead it would hold the rest of the way.
Fresh off his 12th straight All-Star appearance, James led the way for Cleveland with 25 points on 11-for-19 shooting, barely missing his second triple-double of the season with nine assists and nine boards in the victory.
Kyrie Irving – now the squad’s longest-tenured Cavalier – went into the All-Star Break in a nice rhythm and the beat went on in Thursday’s contest – following up with 19 points, four assists and a pair of steals.
Tristan Thompson posted his second straight double-double, finishing with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting – including a pair of breakaway dunks – adding 10 rebounds and leading both teams with three steals and a pair of blocks.
Kevin Love – who left the last game before the Break with a left shoulder stinger – looked rock-solid against Chicago, posting his team-best 24th double-double with 15 points and 15 boards.
Derrick Rose led everyone with 28 points and Pau Gasol added 14 points and nine boards as the Bulls dropped their fifth straight game and seventh in their last eight tries.
The Cavaliers held Chicago to just 40 percent from the floor while beating them on the boards (52-49), on the break (18-10) and in the paint (48-40) – forcing the Bulls into 13 miscues that Cleveland converted into 21 points.
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