Cavaliers at Bulls
The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading for the lottery but are not giving up and have taken great strides since the All-Star break behind coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The Cavaliers will try to move above .500 since the break when they open a six-game road trip by visiting the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.
Cleveland made the switch from John Beilein to Bickerstaff during the break and put together some impressive performances while going 5-5 over the last 10 games, including a 104-102 triumph over Denver on Saturday and a 132-129 overtime victory over San Antonio the next night. "We've shown that we can put together some really good stretches against some really good teams," Bickerstaff told reporters after Sunday's win. "We've played some tough teams since we've been here at home, well-coached teams, talented teams, and we were able to find a way. It lets you know, and it gives you that confidence that you are capable of winning and winning tight games." Chicago keeps playing tight games but is falling just short with losses in three straight. The Bulls are still without leading scorer Zach LaVine (quad) and are trying to hold Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. to minutes restrictions with all three making their way back from long term injuries.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, NBCS Chicago
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (19-45): Cleveland got double-doubles from four different players on Sunday, led by 28 points and 17 rebounds from center Andre Drummond and 14 points and 11 assists from veteran point guard Matthew Dellavedova. "Especially off a tough game last night, that's veteran leadership, guys who have been through it and dealt with those circumstances before," Bickerstaff told reporters. "The adversity tonight, easily could have just laid down. Had many excuses but those guys took it upon themselves to lead the way and go scrap and go get a win." Kevin Love added 14 points and 18 rebounds on Sunday for his third double-double in the last five games.
ABOUT THE BULLS (21-43): Porter was playing his fourth game since November on Sunday after overcoming a foot injury and broke out with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting and four steals in 25 minutes off the bench in the 110-107 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. "I know it's going to be hard," Porter told reporters. "Hard mentally and physically on my body because I haven't played in so long. I'm just trying to do whatever I can when I'm out there and play hard. That's the only thing I can do right now, try to get my legs back, try to help my teammates out as much as possible." LaVine practiced with the team over the weekend and is questionable to return Tuesday.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Cavaliers C Tristan Thompson (eye) left Sunday's game and joins SG Kevin Porter Jr. (concussion) and PG Darius Garland (groin) as day-to-day.
2. Bulls rookie G Coby White is averaging 26.9 points over the last eight games.
3. Chicago took the last two meetings, most recently earning a 118-106 win in Cleveland on Jan. 25.