Quick Hit: Cavs 86, Bulls 84

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgw197EmHkU

The video above shows you all you need to know, as the Cavs won ugly in the United Center. In the fourth, J.R. Smith got hot, and Delly and LeBron found Earl the third as he scored 11 fourth quarter points, to overcome a seven point deficit at the start of the quarter. After Cleveland clawed to a seven point lead produced by Mozzy, JR, and Bron, Dunleavy hit a tech, and Cleveland milked a six point lead for 3:39 to hold on to beat Bulls in Chicago. It was their “run out the clock offense.” They would barely get it over the timeline and then take it down to 10 before they even ran any action, usually an LBJ pick and roll. They slow rolled Chicago to hang on to a a two point lead with the ball and 18 seconds left, until an offensive foul call gave the ball back to the Bulls. Rose scored a filthy right side layup over Tristan to tie it, and after a James drive, on which Joakim Noah mauled the King with no call, Chicago knocked the ball out with .8 seconds left. After a review which gave the Cavs a chance to draw up a play, the officials put 1.5 on the clock, and LeBron caught an inbound on the left baseline and drained the game winner.

This was all after a furious fourth quarter, during which J.R. got hot and the Cavs held the Bulls to 16 points after Chicago had held Cleveland to 12 points in the third (it was as ugly as it sounds). Tyron Lue even saved David Blatt from costing the Cavs the game, when Blatt tried to call a timeout (that they didn’t have).

LeBron went from scapegoat to Greatest of All Time consideration, after going 10-30 and throwing the ball away eight times, and then hitting the third playoff buzzer-beater of his career, tying Michael Jordan.

The real story of this game was the Cavs’ Mark Price inspired 23-24 performance from the free-throw line, to counter Chicago’s 11-12 performance from there, in a game that must have been incredibly difficult to officiate.

There were five Cavs in double figures. Mozgov was brilliant, with 15, 7-8 at the line, nine boards, three dimes, and three blocks. TT was a force on offense, going 5-6 from the field for 12 points, and adding seven boards. Kyrie struggled again, but went 8-8 from the free-throw line, and only had one turnover to finish with 12 points. J.R. provided the fourth quarter fireworks, and finished with 13 points, on 5-10 shooting.

The Cavs held the Bulls to 36% shooting, and out-rebounded them 44-40. Fortunately, Cleveland was able to overcome a 15-8 turnover disadvantage (Cavs gave up 17 points off them). Derrick rose was in MVP mode, finishing with 31 and four dimes, off of 59% true shooting and only two turnovers. Butler added 19, but the Cavs held him to 8-21 from the floor, and Joakim Noah set a plethora of nasty screens — the majority of them completely illegal, yet uncalled.

The Cavs come home Tuesday and JR Smith probably deserves his starting spot back. His performance was huge in an ugly, gritty, beautiful win.