Box Score & Player Grades: Cavaliers 128, Bulls 122 – November 8, 2025
Within two minutes of the Chicago Bulls facing the Cleveland Cavaliers, Billy Donovan called a timeout after the Bulls fell behind 7-0, highlighted by De’Andre Hunter’s three-pointer. Both teams had played in the NBA Cup less than 24 hours earlier, but Cleveland had a chance to rest starters in the second half after scoring 148 points against the Wizards. Evan Mobley stood out, scoring 11 of the Cavaliers’ first 22 points.
Despite the early deficit, the Bulls stayed composed, demonstrating their depth. Donovan’s strategic use of the bench shifted momentum late in the first quarter, with Chicago closing on a 14-8 run to make it a one-possession game.
Starting the second quarter, Ayo Dosunmu scored an and-one layup, giving Chicago the lead and boosting their confidence. Jalen Smith played a key role in the comeback, adding 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 11 minutes. Smith’s efforts contributed to the Bulls’ bench outscoring Cleveland’s second unit 35-14 by halftime, and he had an impressive +22 rating.
“At one point, they missed 13 straight threes.”
As the first half progressed, Cleveland’s offense faltered significantly, struggling to score efficiently.
Summary
The Bulls showed resilience and bench strength to battle back from an early deficit, while Cleveland’s offense struggled with their shooting consistency despite the strong start from Mobley.
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