The Cleveland Cavaliers came away with a 115-110 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night at United Center, using a strong first three quarters to build enough separation before surviving a late push in the fourth. Cleveland improved to 43-27 with the road result, while Chicago fell to 28-42 after trimming a 20-point deficit to make the closing minutes competitive.
Quarter-by-quarter breakdown
First quarter: Cleveland set the tone early, outscoring Chicago 32-22 in the opening period. The Cavaliers moved the ball well and found enough scoring balance to create an immediate cushion, while the Bulls had trouble matching that pace on the offensive end.
Second quarter: The Cavaliers added to their advantage in the second, taking the quarter 29-23 and heading into halftime with a 61-45 lead. Cleveland continued to generate steady offense, and Chicago could not quite string together enough stops to shift the momentum before the break.
Third quarter: Any chance of a quick Bulls turnaround was limited in the third, when Cleveland again posted 32 points and won the quarter 32-28. That gave the Cavaliers a 93-73 lead entering the fourth and put the game firmly in their control with 12 minutes to play.
Fourth quarter: Chicago responded with its best stretch of the night, outscoring Cleveland 37-22 in the final period. The Bulls finally found a better offensive rhythm and made the Cavaliers work through the closing possessions, but the earlier deficit was too much to overcome as Cleveland held on for the five-point win.
Key performers
Cavaliers: James Harden led all scorers with 36 points and added nine assists and seven rebounds, delivering the most complete offensive performance of the game. Evan Mobley controlled the glass with 14 rebounds as Cleveland finished with a 54-47 edge on the boards.
Bulls: Tre Jones paced Chicago with 20 points. Josh Giddey had one of the more unusual stat lines of the night, finishing with nine points, six rebounds, and 19 assists to drive much of the Bulls’ playmaking. Guerschon Yabusele added 11 rebounds to help Chicago stay competitive on the interior.
Game analysis
The final margin reflected two very different parts of the game. For three quarters, Cleveland was the more consistent team. The Cavaliers built their advantage behind Harden’s scoring and playmaking, a plus-nine rebounding margin, and a notable edge at the foul line. Cleveland went 21-for-31 on free throws, while Chicago finished 11-for-17, and that extra production helped offset nearly identical three-point accuracy from both teams at 34.1%.
Chicago actually made more field goals than Cleveland, 42 to 40, and finished with one more assist, 27 to 26. The Bulls also took care of enough possessions to mount a serious comeback push late. But their slow start proved costly. Falling behind by 10 after one quarter, then 16 by halftime, left very little margin for error.
The Bulls’ fourth-quarter surge showed encouraging resilience, especially with Giddey organizing the offense and Jones providing scoring support. Still, Cleveland’s work over the first 36 minutes gave it enough room to absorb that late pressure. In a game where both teams shot under 45% from the field, the Cavaliers’ rebounding and free-throw volume made the biggest difference.
Closing context
The win moved Cleveland to 43-27 and strengthened its position in the Eastern Conference race as the regular season continued to tighten. For Chicago, now 28-42, the loss was another reminder of how costly extended scoring droughts can be, even when a late rally brings the game back within reach. The Bulls showed fight in the fourth, but the Cavaliers left Chicago with the result that mattered most.
