CLEVELAND (AP) — Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each scored 24 points as the Chicago Bulls held off the shaky Cleveland Cavaliers 136-125 in the fourth quarter on Friday night.
Vucevic also grabbed 15 rebounds and had 11 points and 6 rebounds in the fourth quarter. The Bulls won consecutive games for the first time since November 19.
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Chicago had seven players score in double figures. Josh Guidy scored 17 points and Tre Jones scored 16 points off the bench.
Darius Garland scored a season-high 35 points for Cleveland when All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell missed time due to illness. All-Star forward Evan Mobley will miss at least a week with a calf injury.
Rookie guard Tyrese Proctor scored 16 points in his first NBA start and Nae’Qwan Tomlin added 15 points off the bench.
The Cavaliers have lost three in a row and four in five. They have also lost five of their last six home games.
The game was tied at 115, and Chicago went on a 17-8 run to take control of the situation. Vucevic scored seven points during the sprint, including the go-ahead layup.
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Chicago led 66-55 at halftime and 74-60 early in the third quarter before Cleveland fought back with a 27-9 run. Jarrett Allen had 10 points and 4 rebounds, while Garland had 9 points and 4 assists.
Cleveland scored the first 11 points in the game, and then Chicago scored 6 points in a single quarter to take the lead. Buzelis hit a three-pointer and Jaylen Tyson received a flagrant foul. Buzelis made a free throw and Vucevic scored a layup.
Game referee Trey Maddox suffered a leg injury at the end of the first quarter, leaving only two officiating staff for the remainder of the game: Ray Acosta and Finizer Ransom.
Next
Bulls: Play against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
Cavaliers: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday.
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba