Bulls’ Mistakes Keep Cavaliers Perfect
A Fine Line Between Perfection and Mediocrity
There’s a fine line between perfection and mediocrity in the NBA. The Bulls walked it for 47-plus minutes Monday and then fell off. Thanks to 36 points by Donovan Mitchell and a nasty finger roll with 23.6 seconds left by Darius Garland, the Bulls fell just short of handing the unbeaten Cavaliers their first loss of the season, losing 119-113 at the United Center.
Too Many Turnovers, Not Enough Star Power
Too many turnovers and not enough star power. It’s an ongoing storyline for the Bulls (4-7) and one that seemingly is haunting them at the worst times. Last week, they watched the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic and the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards ‘‘out-star’’ them in back-to-back games. On Monday, it was Mitchell and Garland.
Bulls’ Struggles Continue
The Cavs improved to 12-0, extending the best start to a season in franchise history. As for the Bulls, it was back to second-guessing why the turnovers persist. They committed 21 in their latest defeat. ‘‘We had a couple of moments where we beat ourselves,’’ guard Zach LaVine said. ‘‘They’re a good team. You can’t have that many mistakes against them. They’ll take advantage.’’
Cavaliers Capitalize on Turnovers
They did, indeed, with the Cavs flipping those turnovers into 35 points. ‘‘It’s reading the game,’’ guard Josh Giddey said. ‘‘When we have a couple of bad possessions, probably slow it down, get us into something. We’re emphasizing pace and the way we want to play, but it’s also my job to recognize if we haven’t gotten a good look in a couple of trips down, slow the game down. That’s probably where a few turnovers came from, just leaving my feet. It’s been a little bit of an issue, but I’m the first one to look in the mirror and say I’ve got to be better in that area.’’
Game was There for the Taking
That’s because Giddey and his teammates know the game was there for the taking. Coach Billy Donovan couldn’t have asked for a better first half. The Bulls played with pace and were lethal from three-point range.
Conclusion
The Bulls have been a Jekyll-and-Hyde team in the third quarter this season, but they played some of their best basketball of the season in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half. However, it was the Cavaliers’ bench that flexed its muscles to close out the quarter, and ultimately, Mitchell’s 36 points helped secure the win for the Cavs.
FAQs
* Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The Bulls lost to the Cavaliers 119-113.
* Q: Who led the Bulls in scoring?
A: Zach LaVine was the top scorer for the Bulls, but he did not match the performance of Donovan Mitchell, who led the Cavaliers with 36 points.
* Q: How many turnovers did the Bulls commit?
A: The Bulls committed 21 turnovers in the game.
