CHICAGO — Max Strus stepped up with 26 points and seven assists, leading a depleted Cleveland Cavaliers to a 109-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. The Bulls, missing key player Zach LaVine, faced a resilient Cavaliers team that overcame the absence of their top scorers.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 21 points, while Nikola Vucevic added a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Bulls couldn’t match the energy and execution of the Cavaliers.
Jarrett Allen was a dominant force for Cleveland, contributing 19 points and 17 rebounds. Craig Porter Jr. also had a standout performance with 19 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. The Cavaliers were without Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Caris LeVert, who together average 78 points per game.
Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff lauded his team’s character and commitment, highlighting their physical and mental toughness in the face of adversity. Mitchell missed his third consecutive game due to illness, while Garland and Mobley are both sidelined until at least February. LeVert, dealing with left knee tendonitis, was also unable to play.
Cleveland has shown remarkable resilience, winning four of its last five games despite the mounting injuries. Strus emphasized the team’s “next man up” mentality and praised Porter for his sensational performance.
Strus, particularly effective in the closing stages, scored 10 of Cleveland’s last 16 points. Porter, on a two-way contract with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G-League, played a crucial role in facilitating Strus’ scoring.
Cleveland also missed Sam Merrill, who was sidelined with a wrist injury. Merrill had been a key contributor in recent games, including a career-high 27 points against Utah.
One of the game’s defining moments came in the third quarter when Strus, a former Bull, dunked over Vucevic, initially called an offensive foul but overturned upon review. This play boosted the Cavaliers, who extended their lead with consecutive baskets by Strus and Georges Niang.
Porter missed a free throw early in the fourth quarter, but Tristan Thompson’s tip-in and Damian Jones’ three-pointer extended Cleveland’s lead. Although Patrick Williams briefly cut the lead to five for the Bulls, Strus responded with eight straight points, energizing the team and the crowd.
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will face Dallas on Wednesday night, while the Bulls host Atlanta on Tuesday.
