Game Summary
The Cavaliers play their second straight road game on Thursday night, taking on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center before returning to The Q on Friday night. This is the fourth and final meeting between the two Central Division rivals this season, with Chicago in position for the season-sweep. Overall, the Cavaliers have lost four straight to the Bulls. Tipoff from the United Center is at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
CAVS TO GO NAVY IN CHICAGO.
The Cavaliers look for their first win against the Bulls this season.
TNT
WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 FM La Mega
Joe G. has your five keys to a victory.
Get inside Thursday's matchup.
Discuss on Wine & Gold Nation.
The Wine and Gold are 5-5 in their last 10 games and are tied with the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference with their 47-26 record.
Coming into Thursday night, the Cavs are averaging 110.0 points per game this season (1st in the East, 4th-best in the NBA) while the Bulls give up 103.4 points per game (4th in the East, 8th in the NBA).
The Cavs have already made a franchise single season record 945 three-pointers in 2016-17. That is the 3rd-most triples hit by any NBA team in a single season, trailing only Golden State in 2015-16 (1,077 3FGM) and Houston this season (1,075 3FGM).
Chicago enters Thursday's contest winners of three of their last five games and currently sit in the 9th spot in the East at 35-39, and only one and half games behind the Indiana Pacers.
With Dwyane Wade out with an elbow injury, they have relied heavily on Jimmy Butler, who comes into the game averaging 26.7 points over his last five games.
Where to Catch the Action
TV: TNT
Radio: WTAM 1100, 100.7 WMMS, 87.7 La Mega
For live in-game updates, follow @cavs, @CavsJoeG, @CavsFredMcLeod, @MrCavalier34, @CavsJMike and @chones22 on Twitter.
Probable Starters/Status Update*
#2 - Kyrie Irving
#5 - J.R. Smith
#23 - LeBron James
#0 - Kevin Love
#13 - Tristan Thompson
G
G
F
F
C
#9 - Rajon Rondo
#21 - Jimmy Butler
#44 - Nikola Mirotic
#16 - Paul Zipser
#8 - Robin Lopez
Status Update: (Cavs) - Kyle Korver (left foot soreness) – OUT, Iman Shumpert (right knee soreness) – QUESTIONABLE
Status Update: (Bulls) - Cristiano Felício (lower back contusion) and Dwyane Wade (right elbow sprain) are OUT.
*Subject to change.
Head-to-Head Matchup
As mentioned, the Bulls have won all three matchups this season and four in a row overall over the Cavaliers. The last time the Wine and Gold defeated the Bulls at the United Center was October 31st, 2014.
LeBron James comes into Thursday's matchup playing well in the month of March (13 games), including 9 double-doubles and 4 triple-doubles, while averaging 27.2 points on .545 shooting, 10.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 37.2 minutes of action.
He has scored 20 or more points in 10 consecutive games against the Bulls, including four contests in which he has poured in at least 30 points. This season versus Chicago, he is averaging 29.0 points on .581 shooting, 10.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds in 40.5 minutes.
Kyrie Irving poured in a game-high 34 points on 13-25 (.520) shooting, to go along with a team-high tying nine rebounds, a team-best seven assists and a block in 35 minutes in the last matchup with the Bulls on Feb. 25.
In 17 career games against the Bulls, Kevin Love is averaging 16.9 points and 10.5 rebounds in 31.9 minutes. Love currently ranks 2nd in the Eastern Conference and 5th in the NBA in first quarter scoring, averaging 8.0 points.
Channing Frye scored in double figures in all three meetings against the Bulls this season and is averaging 12.3 points on .536 shooting and a .476 (7-15) mark from deep, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 27.7 minutes in those three contests.
On Deck
The Cavaliers wrap up the month of March on Friday night at The Q against the Sixers. Cleveland has seven regular season games remaining in April – four at home and three on the road, wrapping up with Fan Appreciation Night on the 12th vs. Toronto. FIND SEATS | VIEW FULL SCHEDULE