5 takeaways from Chicago Bulls’ late collapse against Cleveland Cavaliers
The Chicago Bulls suffered their second straight loss of the season on Saturday night, falling 128-122 to the Cleveland Cavaliers after surrendering a commanding lead. For most of the season, the Bulls had excelled in close games, priding themselves on resilience and sharp execution under pressure.
Strong early performance
Despite starting slowly and allowing Cleveland a 7-0 opening run, the Bulls tightened their defense and pulled ahead in the first half. By halftime, they held a 16-point advantage, and early in the second half, they stretched it to 19 points.
Clutch consistency broken
Before this matchup, Chicago had won each of its four games that came down to five or fewer points in the final minutes of regulation. Those victories showcased the team’s grit and late-game composure, key factors in their unexpected early success in the Eastern Conference standings.
The turning point
What seemed like another clutch win quickly fell apart. As the game progressed, Cleveland found rhythm behind Donovan Mitchell’s resurgence. After scoring only three points in the first half on 1-for-10 shooting, his renewed accuracy in the second half fueled the Cavaliers’ comeback and sealed the Bulls’ defeat.
“The severity of the collapse was only sharpened by the contrast of the Bulls’ offensive momentum in the first half.”
Summary
The Bulls showcased early dominance but faltered late, losing grip of a 19-point lead as Donovan Mitchell’s second-half scoring run powered the Cavaliers to victory.
Author’s summary
A commanding first-half effort crumbled in Cleveland as Chicago’s clutch streak ended, exposing late-game lapses that turned a dominant start into a stinging loss.