Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points and Jarrett Allen notched a 25-point, 17-rebound double-double as the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers rallied to defeat the Chicago Bulls 139-117 on Tuesday for their 11th straight victory.
NBA-leading Cleveland, which boasts three double-digit winning streaks this season, moved to 41 games over .500.
Zach Collins scored four straight points for the Bulls to tie the game at 107 with 7:04 to go. Cleveland responded with a 14-0 run that featured six points from Allen and five from Javonte Green.
Chicago lost for the ninth time in 11 games but remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Brooklyn and Philadelphia for the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and the final spot in the East play-in tournament.
Mitchell returned after missing Sunday’s home win against Portland due to rest. He led seven Cavaliers in double figures. Darius Garland contributed 19 points and seven assists, Ty Jerome added 16 points and Max Strus, Sam Merrill and Green chipped in 11 apiece.
Coby White paced Chicago with 25 points while Collins (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Jalen Smith (13 points, 11 rebounds) registered double-doubles. Talen Horton-Tucker scored 22 points while Matas Buzelis added 17.
Despite a depleted rotation whose absences included Nikola Vucevic (right calf strain), Josh Giddey (left quad contusion), Patrick Williams (right quad tendinosis) and Kevin Huerter (right knee sprain), the Bulls built a 15-point lead midway through the first half.
A J Smith trey put Chicago ahead 46-31 before the Cavaliers scored 26 of the next 38 points to close within 58-57 at the break. Garland connected on a pair of 3s in the last 35 seconds of the half.
Allen had 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Horton-Tucker (14 points) and White (10) led a balanced attack for the Bulls.
Cleveland continued its recent stranglehold against Chicago, clinching the season series with its third victory in as many games with an April 8 meeting in Cleveland remaining. The Cavaliers have won 10 of their past 11 games against the Bulls.
Evan Mobley (rest management) was out for Cleveland.
–Field Level Media
