Box Score & Player Grades: Cavaliers 128, Bulls 122 – November 8, 2025
Less than two minutes into the Chicago Bulls' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach Billy Donovan called an early timeout. The Bulls quickly fell behind 7-0 after De’Andre Hunter sank a three-pointer. Both teams were coming off NBA Cup games from the previous night, with Chicago facing Milwaukee and Cleveland dropping 148 points on Washington, allowing the Cavs to rest their starters.
Evan Mobley opened the night on fire, scoring 11 of Cleveland’s first 22 points. Yet Chicago stayed composed. Their depth once again proved crucial near the end of the first quarter, when the reserves helped shift momentum.
Donovan’s bench unit sparked a 14-8 run to close the period, trimming the lead to a single possession. Ayo Dosunmu started the second quarter with a strong and-one finish, giving the Bulls their first lead and a burst of confidence.
Jalen Smith played a key role in the comeback, delivering 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in just 11 minutes. He finished the half with a remarkable +22 rating, leading Chicago’s bench to outscore Cleveland’s reserves 35-14.
“The further we got into the half, the uglier the Cavs’ offense became. At one point, they missed 13 straight threes.”
Author’s Summary
Chicago’s bench depth fueled an early rally after a slow start, while Cleveland’s offense struggled, missing 13 consecutive threes before halftime.