Coby White scored 25 points and Josh Giddey notched 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to boost the host Chicago Bulls past the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-111 on Wednesday.
Chicago won for the second time in three games on the heels of a seven-game losing streak. Cleveland took its third loss in four games.
Cavaliers leading scorer Donovan Mitchell had a game-high 32 points to keep the visitors afloat. His dunk with 8:18 remaining brought Cleveland within nine points, but the Cavaliers were unable to get closer down the stretch.
The Bulls shot a season-best 56.2% compared to 48.3% for the Cavaliers, but the teams combined to shoot 26-for-75 (34.7%) from 3-point range. Chicago led by as many as 19 points in the fourth quarter en route to snapping a five-game skid in the series.
Seven players scored in double figures for the Bulls, who collected 35 assists on 50 made field goals. Nikola Vucevic contributed 20 points and nine rebounds, and Tre Jones logged 11 points and 11 assists. Isaac Okoro (12 points), Kevin Huerter (11) and Zach Collins (10) rounded out a balanced attack.
The Bulls benefited from White’s resilience from long range. Coming off a 1-for-10 effort from beyond the arc on Sunday as part of a 3-for-23 start from deep in December, he swished 3 of 5 3-point attempts against Cleveland.
Jaylon Tyson had 21 points for the Cavaliers, while Darius Garland (15), Jarrett Allen (14) and De’Andre Hunter (12) followed. Lonzo Ball grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
Chicago overcame a 12-point first-half deficit to take a 62-58 advantage into the break.
Giddey (13 points) and White (11) paced the Bulls before intermission as Mitchell (15), Garland (11) and Allen (10) led the Cavaliers.
The Bulls surged ahead behind a steady transition game led by Jones, who contributed seven of the team’s 16 first-half assists and three of its eight steals before the break.
Giddey has six triple-doubles this season after notching seven last season.
Ayo Dosunmu (sprained right thumb) was out for Chicago.
The Bulls evened the season series at one game apiece, avenging a six-point loss in Cleveland on Nov. 8. The teams will square off in Cleveland again on Friday.
–Field Level Media
