Game Recap: Bulls stay perfect in preseason win over Cavaliers

Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 3 hours ago

CHICAGO - The Preseason may not mean anything to most fans, but there are plenty of things to like when it comes to the preseason. Apart from wins and losses, which never count against you, the preseason is the one time during the NBA season when most teams use every available player on their roster to give them minutes on the floor.

That alone gives them an opportunity to prove their worth within an organization, with the ultimate goal of securing a long-term team position. That is no different than what Billy Donovan does and how he treats this team, as the Bulls appear to have more depth this season than in the past, and that alone is saying something.

Backed by six players landing in double figures, including four of them coming from the starting five, it was the Bulls picking up their second win of the preseason against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 119-112 score. That makes two victories in 48 hours over their Central Division rival, and you have to wonder if that alone will give this team some added confidence going forward.

For a team that prides itself on defense, you wouldn't have guessed that based on the first quarter, as both teams came out strong to play to a 32-32 tie after one. In fact, three of the four quarters saw the teams score at least 25 points, with the exception of the second quarter, when the defense took over. The Bulls outscored the Cavs 18-15 in the second quarter to hold a three-point lead at halftime.

A significant reason for their first-half lead was the production from their starting five, as four of the five starters landed in double figures for Chicago. Although he has struggled to shoot the ball thus far, Josh Giddey had a great game for the Bulls, picking up 14 points and six assists to set the tone, while adding seven rebounds. He is looking to take on an even bigger role this season, as he will be the engine that drives the Bulls' success.

Joining Giddey from the starting five was Zach Collins, who contributed 13 points and also pulled down eight rebounds. Collins is a player without a defined role at this point, but since he arrived in Chicago, he has proven he can play a variety of roles, including time as a starter. Throw in 11 points from Matas Buzelis and 10 points from Tre Jones, who also added seven assists, and the Bulls' offense was showing the depth and balance that they have lacked in recent seasons.

Although none of the starters had massive games, their efforts needed to shine through as the Cavaliers wanted to send a message. Despite having only three players score in double figures for Cleveland, all three starters combined for more than 60 points, as the Bulls struggled to defend at times.

Leading the way for Cleveland was the Spider himself, as Donovan Mitchell showed up with 22 points, knocking down three triples on five attempts. He was joined by Evan Mobley, who had his second straight big night against the Bulls, and De'Andre Hunter, as Mobley added 21 points with Hunter picking up 20.

Apart from that, the Cavaliers didn't have another double-digit scorer, but given the effort those three put in, it helped the Cavaliers keep things close through three quarters, as they trailed by one entering the fourth. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that the Bulls began to pull away, outscoring the Cavs 32-26 over the final 12 minutes to establish some late-game separation.

The Bulls' bench was the key to that late-game run, and that will be a massive key for them all season as they will need more consistent production from their bench. That is why having someone like Ayo Dosunmu on your bench is so valuable, as the now fifth-year man has proven to be the perfect fit on this team, whether as a starter or coming off the bench.

Fresh off offseason shoulder surgery, Dosunmu is not only healthy but also ready to prove his worth this season, as he enters a contract year. With 16 points off the bench to lead all Bulls scorers, Dosunmu is in a great place as he is going to take on a massive role this season. Chicago also had the sharp-shooting Javon Carter stay hot with 14 points, with 12 of those points coming on 4-5 from distance as the Bulls improved to 2-0 this preseason.