Cavs score, recap vs Bulls. Cleveland extends winning streak to four games with comeback

Story by

Story by
Cavs score, recap vs Bulls. Cleveland extends winning streak to four games with comeback

Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Sat, Nov 8, 2025 ·

10 min read

About Our Ads

CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers ' injury carousel continued on Nov. 8, but they still defeated the Chicago Bulls 128-122 with a dramatic comeback at Rocket Arena.

The Cavs were without All-Star guard Darius Garland , who played the previous night against the Washington Wizards . Cleveland wants to be cautious for a bit, so Garland won't play back-to-back nights just yet, hence his absence against the Bulls.

Here is how Cavs (7-3) versus Bulls (6-3) unfolded through our updates:

Cavs defeat Bulls 128-122, ending game on 12-0 run

The Cavs trailed 122-116 with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, but they closed the game on a 12-0 run to beat the Bulls 128-122. Cleveland is on a four-game winning streak.

After guard Donovan Mitchell and wing De'Andre Hunter combined for 10 quick points in crunch time, guard Jaylon Tyson made two foul shots with 4.3 seconds left to cap the Cavs' outburst.

Mitchell and Hunter scored 29 points apiece to lead the Cavs. Mitchell also had six rebounds and six assists. Forward Evan Mobley added 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Tyson scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Small forward Isaac Okoro , formerly of the Cavs, led the Bulls with 19 points.

Cavs rally in crunch time to take 126-122 lead vs. Bulls

The Bulls pulled away a bit from the Cavs, going ahead 122-116 with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter after guard Tre Jones made six consecutive fouls shots on three separate trips to the free-throw line.

But the Cavs rallied and led 126-122 during a Chicago timeout with 12.3 seconds left.

Guard Donovan Mitchell made a 3-pointer with 1:38 left, made a layup with 1:13 left and produced a three-point play with 33.4 seconds left. Then wing De'Andre Hunter made two foul shots with 12.3 seconds left. Those plays combined for 10 quick Cleveland points.

Cavs, Bulls in 1-point game with 3 minutes left

Jaylon Tyson checked back into the game and immediately scored eight huge points for the Cavs, who trail the Bulls 116-115 with 2:57 left.

Tyson hit back-to-back 3s and then added a layup to keep Cleveland within one possession.

Cavs, Bulls score as Chicago leads midway through fourth quarter

The tension and energy of this game has really picked up following a series of calls with which the Cavaliers bench was not happy. The Bulls have a 107-103 lead with 6:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Jarrett Allen has had a rough stretch offensively, missing a couple of good looks. The Cavs had to give Donovan Mitchell a breather, and the Bulls used that opportunity to reclaim a small lead.

Cavs cut into Bulls lead, trail by 2 entering fourth quarter

The Cavs have stormed back to erase what was a 19-point lead, turning into just a 98-96 deficit entering the fourth quarter.

After an ice-cold start to this game — he was 1-for-10 in the first half — Donovan Mitchell got it going, scoring 13 points in the third quarter alone to lead the comeback. De'Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley are tied with the team lead with 24 points each.

De'Andre Hunter crossover dribble leaves Josh Giddey with possible ankle injury

De'Andre Hunter just left Josh Giddey in the dust and garnered one of the biggest reactions from the Cavs bench in a long time.

Hunter sent Giddey to the floor with a crossover dribble, leading to a two-handed dunk. Giddey remained on the floor with an apparent ankle injury. He then hobbled to the bench and has exited the game.

A common saying in basketball is "he broke someone's ankles" with a crossover dribble, but rarely is an actual ankle injury included. Hunter had Giddey leaning so far one way that his ankle gave way. That'll be a highlight Hunter saves for a long time.

The Cavs bench went nuts in celebration. Thomas Bryant jokingly collapsed to the floor twice.

It's one of those plays where had it happened in a schoolyard somewhere, or a high school gym, or an NBA arena, the reaction would be the same.

Cavs start third quarter on 12-0 run to cut into Bulls lead

If Kenny Atkinson did in fact send a stern message to the roster at halftime, it appears it landed.

The Cavs have come out of the locker room at halftime seemingly rejuvenated and have ran out to a 12-0 run to open the third quarter, cutting the lead to 72-68 with nine minutes remaining.

Evan Mobley has five of those points and is already up to 23 for the game.

Bulls lead Cavs by 16 at halftime

The Cavaliers had a couple of ugly turnovers near the end of the second quarter and the Bulls' 3-point barrage hasn't slowed down, and Cleveland will enter halftime trailing 72-56.

A few nights ago, Kenny Atkinson said he ripped the players as much as an NBA coach can at halftime. There might be a similar speech tonight, though a major part of the Cavs' deficit is the Bulls hitting 10 of their 14 3-point attempts. Isaac Okoro has three of them.

For the Cavs, Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter has led the way with 16 and 14 points, respectively. All other Cavs have combined to go just 10-for-34 from the floor.

Nov 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward De'Andre Hunter (12) shoots against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cavs, Bulls score: Chicago pouring in 3-pointers

The Bulls are raining 3s on the Cavs, and Cleveland is having trouble keeping up.

As a team, the Bulls have hit nine of their 12 3-point attempts, including one from former Cav Isaac Okoro. The Cavs trailed by 15 at one point, though they were given a boost thanks to back-to-back 3s from rookie Tyrese Proctor , both from nearly the same spot on the floor.

With 3:38 left in the first half, the Bulls hold a 58-46 lead.

Nov 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) dunks against the Chicago Bulls during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images — Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley dunks against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 8, 2025, in Cleveland.

Evan Mobley already has 16 points, but the Bulls have the lead in second quarter

Evan Mobley has been the driving force for the Cavs on the offensive end thus far, already with 16 points on 6-for-7 shooting.

The Bulls, though, have been shooting it light's out, and have opened up a 45-37 lead with 7:46 left in the second quarter. As a team, Chicago is shooting 56 percent from the floor and 71 percent (5-for-7) from 3-point range. Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith and Patrick Williams are all tied with a team-high eight points.

Cavs lead Bulls 32-29 at the end of the first quarter

The Cavs led the Bulls 32-29 at the end of the first quarter.

Cavs big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen combined for 18 points — Mobley with 11 and Allen with seven. Small forward De'Andre Hunter scored eight points for Cleveland. Guards Sam Merrill and Donovan Mitchell combined for just two points but had four and three assists, respectively. The Cavs had 12 assists on 13 made field goals.

Forward Patrick Williams led the Bulls with six points (two 3-pointers) off the bench.

Nov 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after being hit in the face during the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cleveland Cavaliers lead Chicago Bulls 28-20 with 2:31 left in the first quarter

Coming out of a timeout, the Cavs went to forward Evan Mobley, and he rewarded them with a three-point play, giving them an 18-15 edge with 5:33 left in the first quarter. The foul picked up by Isaac Okoro, formerly of the Cavs, was his second and led to him checking out of the game with 5:15 remaining.

On the Cavs' next two possessions, Mobley scored again, the first time on a dunk with guard Sam Merrill assisting and the second time with Mobley driving for a layup (but missing a subsequent foul shot for a would-be three-point play) on an assist from point guard Lonzo Ball .

An offensive rebound grabbed by center Jarrett Allen led to Allen making a layup on an assist from Merrill with 3:47 left in the first quarter. The sequence resulted in 24-15 Cavs lead amid a 9-0 run by Cleveland.

Forward Jalen Smith halted the Bulls' scoring drought with a 3-pointer, and guard Tre Jones made a subsequent fast-break layup.

Guard Donovan Mitchell's successful floater and an alley-oop from Merrill to Allen put the Cavs ahead 28-20 and led to a Bulls timeout with 2:31 left in the first quarter.

Nov 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Kevin Huerter (13) knocks the ball away from Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Bulls charge back and tie score 15-15 in first quarter vs. Cavs

Familiar faces dueled during a sequence midway through the first quarter. Bulls small forward Isaac Okoro made a wide-open 3-pointer, and Cavs point guard Lonzo Ball missed a 3 badly on the next possession.

Then Bulls forward Patrick Williams drained a 3, and Chicago trailed 15-13. A layup by center Nikola Vucevic on a nifty pass from guard Josh Giddey tied the score 15-15 and sent the Cavs into a timeout with 5:44 left in the opening quarter.

With 7:20 left in the first quarter, small forward De'Andre Hunter made a floater while drawing a foul from Isaac Okoro. Hunter made the foul shot to complete the three-point play and put the Cavs ahead 13-7.

The Bulls scored for the first time with 9:10 left in the first quarter, when guard Josh Giddey made a fast-break layup. Forward Patrick Williams followed with a 3-pointer, trimming the Bulls' deficit to 8-5 with 8:36 left in the opening quarter.

Cleveland Cavaliers welcome back Isaac Okoro

The Cavs traded Isaac Okoro to the Bulls in the offseason in a deal bringing Lonzo Ball to Cleveland.

With 10:27 left in the first quarter, Okoro received a warm welcome from their Cavs with a tribute video on the scoreboards. Cleveland fans also gave Okoro a good ovation, and he gestured to the crowd in appreciation.

Nov 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls guard Kevin Huerter (13) during the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Cavs jump out to 7-0 lead vs. Bulls

The Cavs started strong, with good ball movement leading to assists on each of their first three field goals. Small forward De'Andre Hunter drained a 3-pointer on an assist from guard Jaylon Tyson, giving the Cavs a 7-0 lead and prompting the Bulls to spend a timeout. It was Hunter's 600th career 3.

The Bulls had more than one topic to discuss. Defense aside, they started the game with two turnovers.

Below is some pregame information.

Cavs injury report vs Bulls

Darius Garland (toe management) and Larry Nance Jr. (knee) are both out. The Cavs are simply being cautious with Garland on a back-to-back. Nance took a hit on a knee-to-knee.

Dean Wade , who was poked in the eye against the 76ers , is good to go tonight.

Cavs starting lineup vs. Bulls

The Cavs announced the following players will start against the Bulls:

Guard Donovan Mitchell
Guard Jaylon Tyson
Small forward De'Andre Hunter
Forward Evan Mobley
Center Jarrett Allen

Cavs agree to deal with Chris Livingston

The Cavs and former Buchtel player Chris Livingston agreed to terms on a two-way deal . The team confirmed the deal on Nov. 4. The Akron native has been playing for the Cleveland Charge thus far.

How can I watch/stream/listen to the Cavs vs Bulls game?

The Nov. 8 Cavs-Bulls game can be viewed locally on the FanDuel Sports Network — Ohio. It can heard on the radio on 100.7 WMMS, 1100 WTAM and S: LA MEGA 1300.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers score, recap, highlights vs Chicago Bulls

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: