The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the road to take on the Chicago Bulls in the first of two matchups in three days! I'll be live updating this page throughout the night.
The Cavs will be missing Evan Mobley (left calf strain), Larry Nance Jr. (right calf), Sam Merrill (right wrist sprain), Luke Travers (two-way), Chris Livingston (two-way), and Max Strus. The Bulls are without Ayo Dosunmu, Noa Essengue, and their three two-way players.
Of note: Cleveland is bringing De'Andre Hunter off the bench in this game.
Starters:
Cavs - Garland, Mitchell, Tyson, Wade, Allen
Bulls - Giddey, White, Okoro, Buzelis, Vucevic
FIRST QUARTER
Aggressive start for Darius Garland, who's got a transition three and a quick oop to Jarrett Allen.
Cavs have 15 points in the first three minutes.
Man, this looks seamless already. Chicago's made a couple of tough shots, but it doesn't feel like pulling teeth. Made shots helps, too. Cavs up 20-16 as Kenny Atkinson calls for time after a Coby White three.
Atkinson's first major adjustment of the season looks like it's kickstarted Cleveland, who hasn't gotten off to the best starts to games typically. Cavs up 28-16 about midway through the first quarter.
Bulls on a 10-0 run right away once the initial starting five came out. Cavs got perimeter centric and didn't guard well in that three minutes.
Cleveland had trouble with that Chicago zone, but Craig Porter Jr. had a nice drive to finish the opening frame. Cavs up 34-33 after one.
SECOND QUARTER
Cavs come out with Tyrese Proctor to join Donovan Mitchell and Porter.
Hunter's been loose with the handle and got away with an earlier would-be turnover, then actually gave it up trying to get Josh Giddey again.
Garland's doing an outstanding job of organizing and getting Cleveland to get inside that arc. Cavs down 50-49 after a mini-run.
Give DG some credit on the off-ball defense in this first half. He's drawn a couple of illegal screen calls and is staying and switching as the situations present.
Cleveland's 11 turnovers have been costly so far. Right ideas, but too many tight crevices and off-timing with cutters or handoffs.
Make it 12 miscues. Cavs go down 62-58 going into the locker room after a good stop, but Allen doesn't see Garland's defender right there and it leads to a Giddey three.
THIRD QUARTER
Bulls boatrace the Cavs in the first 1:20 of the second half and open up with seven straight. Atkinson calls for time.
Rim protection optional out of the gate, but Cleveland can't be content matching buckets every time here. Bulls are clearly too speedy for that.
Cavs come out on a run because of a zone that Atkinson went to. It's always his pet set when Cleveland can't guard in man.
Consecutive possessions with good decisions from Ball that were much needed, and he almost had another great play to Allen to close the quarter, but JA missed the long bank hook. Cavs down 95-88 heading into the final frame.
FOURTH QUARTER
Atkinson going to Nae'Qwan Tomlin for more energy.
Mitchell is heating up and just took out a lot of anger on the rim. Cavs down nine in a game that looks like almost every other game we've seen for the last two weeks.
Spida comes out and Chicago is pushing it down again and again and again. Cavs can't buy a stop. They're down 15 and it's getting late.
Season from hell vibes. Cavs lose 127-111.