CLEVELAND, Ohio — You can have your pick of most valuable player from the Cavaliers’ 115-92 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
There’s Darius Garland, who put together a total-game effort scoring 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and dishing out six assists.
There’s also Evan Mobley, who added another stellar game to his resume for the NBA’s rookie of the year award. He scored 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds — but maybe more impressively had five highlight-reel blocks, two on Chicago’s Zach LaVine (team-high 23 points). It was the most blocks by a Cavs rookie in a single game since LeBron James (2003-04).
But then there’s the bench. Ricky Rubio had a team-high nine assists and scored 11 points. Kevin Love caught fire in the decisive third quarter with three 3-pointers. He ended with 11 points as well.
Cleveland also got double-digit nights from Jarrett Allen (13 points, 12 rebounds) and Lauri Markkanen (14 points). Defensively, the Cavs transformed 18 Chicago turnovers into 13 points. The Cavs held Chicago to 41.7% shooting from the field and 26.9% from behind the 3-point arc (7-for-26).
No matter what way you slice it, the Cavs (14-12) took advantage of the opportunity in front of them, shaking a two-game losing streak in the process.
The Bulls came to Cleveland with a depleted roster due to COVID-19 protocols. Chicago was without leading scorer DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 26.4 points per game before entering health and safety protocols before Chicago’s Monday win over Denver. Matt Thomas, Javonte Green and Coby White were all also in COVID protocols.
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Cleveland led for most of this one — Chicago only had the lead for 1:59 the entire night. Cleveland methodically used its variety of offensive weapons, playing the team style they’ve become known for this season. Of Cleveland’s 44 made baskets, 28 came on assists. The Cavs shot 55% from the field (44-80) and 46.4% from distance (13-of-28).
While Cleveland didn’t need a turning point, the Cavs did build a large lead in the third quarter, going up by as many as 22 points, boosted by Love’s nine points and Garland’s seven. In the fourth quarter, Cleveland continued to pile on. The margin grew to 26 before garbage time.
For Chicago, Lonzo Ball added 19, Nikola Vucevic 18 and Derrick Jones Jr. 11.
Mobley started the game 4-for-5 from the field, scoring eight of Cleveland’s first nine points. His mark was all over the first quarter as he finished with a plus-minus of plus-12 as the Cavs built a 29-24 lead. In addition to his eight first-quarter points, he also grabbed two boards, blocked one shot and got one steal. Rubio had eight of his points in the first quarter as well.
The Cavaliers built an 18-12 first-quarter edge, but the Bulls went on a 7-0 run to regain the lead in the only back-and-forth stretch during the contest. With the game tied at 24, the Cavs went on a 12-0 run over the end of the first and start of the second quarter. A 23-19 advantage in the second quarter pushed the Cavs to a 52-43 lead at the half. All eight Cavaliers who saw action in the first 24 minutes made at lest one basket.
Garland’s production was consistent from start to finish. He scored 12 points in the first half and 12 in the second. Between Garland and Rubio, the Cavs assisted on 11 of their 20 made baskets in the first half.
LaVine scored 17 points over the first two quarters, but Cleveland held Chicago to 39.1% shooting in the first half. Mobley had three blocked shots in the first 24 minutes.
More history for Mobley
The Cavs rookie became just the second first-year player in franchise history to score 300 points and block 40 shots in 22 games or fewer, joining John “Hot Rod” Williams. Mobley hit that mark with a block at 10:23 in the second quarter. He got the seven points he needed early in the first quarter.
Wade returns
In his first game back from a calf strain, power forward Dean Wade scored nine points on 3-of-4 shooting, making three 3-pointers. He didn’t get into the game until there was about four minutes remaining.
Up next
The Cavs will hit the road to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. EDT.
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