CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers are getting another crack at clinching the No. 1 playoff seed in the Eastern Conference as they host the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.
With an opportunity to secure the top seed Sunday, the Cavs fell 120-113 to the Sacramento Kings. Adding injury to insult, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell suffered a sprained left ankle and has been ruled out against the Bulls, one of the NBA Play-In Tournament teams the Cavs could face later this month to open the playoffs. A Boston Celtics loss Tuesday night at the New York Knicks would also guarantee the Cavs the No. 1 seed.
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Cavs (62-16) versus Bulls (36-42) tipped off at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday at Rocket Arena. Check back here for updates throughout the game.
Ty Jerome scored five points in the first two minutes of the second quarter, and fellow backup guard Sam Merrill drained a 3-pointer with 10:20 left in the second quarter to give the Cavs a 35-28 lead. The Cavs led by the same score during a timeout with 9:43 remaining.
The Cavs outscored the Bulls 10-4 to begin the second quarter.
The Cavs led the Bulls 25-24 at the end of the first quarter.
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Forward Evan Mobley and Jerome led the Cavs with eight and seven points, respectively, in the opening quarter.
Forward Patrick Williams led the Bulls with six points.
The Cavs received an instant spark when Jerome came off the bench with 5:28 left in the first quarter.
Jerome made two shots in the paint, assisted on a 3-pointer by Mobley and then made a 3-pointer of his own. In other words, Jerome had seven points and an assist in his first 3 minutes and 23 seconds on the court.
Those contributions resulted in the Cavs leading the Bulls 23-18 with 2:05 left in the first quarter.
The Cavs led the Bulls 13-12 during a Chicago timeout with 5:28 remaining in the opening quarter.
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Mobley made a 3-pointer to give the Cavs a one-point edge with 5:43 left. Mobley scored five of Cleveland’s first 13 points.
Unfortunately for the Cavs, Williams got off to an even hotter start with six points (2 of 2 shooting on 3-pointers).
Here is some pregame information:
Mitchell is the only Cavs player listed with an injury. During pregame media availability, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson called Mitchell’s sprain “mild.”
Cavs backup point guard Craig Porter Jr. was downgraded from questionable to out with an illness.
Donovan Mitchell news: Cavs star’s strategic sacrifice is paying off for the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bulls have ruled out guard Coby White (rest). Mitchell leads the Cavs in scoring (24 points), and White leads the Bulls in scoring (20.7 points).
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The Bulls ruled out six other players, too. They are guards Josh Giddey (right flexor carpiulnaris teninopathy), Lonzo Ball (right wrist sprain), Ayo Dosunmu (left shoulder surgery) and Tre Jones (left midfoot sprain), guard-forward Kevin Huerter (right cervical strain) and center Nikola Vucevic (right calf soreness).
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) prepares to shoot a free throw against the Orlando Magic on March 16, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Cavs trail 133-104 in their all-time series with the Bulls. However, the Cavs entered Tuesday 3-0 against the Bulls this season.
Heading into Tuesday, the Cavs were 6-6 in their last 12 games, and the Bulls were 8-4 in their past 12 games.
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Cavaliers news: ‘He’s a guy that controls the pace’: Ty Jerome returns from injury with a spark for Cavs
Tuesday’s game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network. It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavs score vs Chicago Bulls live game updates, highlights
