The Bulls dug themselves a huge early hole and never climbed all the way out in a 102-84 loss to the Cavaliers, who had five players in double figures.
Chicago fell to 0-13 on the road, where they are the NBA's lone winless team. It trailed by 21 points after 15 minutes and fought back within one but was unable to overtake Cleveland, which came in just 6-6 at home.
"We're not the type of a team that can afford to dig ourselves a 21-point hole," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "We expended a lot of energy coming back and closing it to one point. We just have to regroup and understand that we can't come out in first quarters and play like that."
 Cleveland's Jumaine Jones uses the soft touch over tough guy Charles Oakley. David Liam Kyle NBAE/Getty Images |
The Cavs also got a boost from reserve forward Brian Skinner, who had nine points and five rebounds while providing solid defense. Skinner has seen limited playing time this season.
"The game of the night went to Brian Skinner," Cavs coach John Lucas said. "Skinner came in and did a phenomenal job on guarding Marcus Fizer. I thought Brian has been patient. He's talked to me about his minutes. I told him those are the kind of situations where we need to have him come in and play."
"I talked to the coach and was curious about if I would get more or less playing time," Skinner said. "I was happy with my time tonight, but you always ask for more. You have to be consistent; you can't be on one game and off another. I think I did what he needed me to do."
The Cavs made their first five shots, racing to a 10-0 lead. A jumper by Jones closed the quarter and gave Cleveland a 37-21 advantage as it shot 76 percent (16-of-21) from the field.
A jumper and 3-pointer by Jones widened the bulge to 44-23. The Cavs still held a 51-30 lead before the Bulls scored 30 of the next 40 points. Chicago closed to 55-46 at halftime and 61-60 on Greg Anthony's basket with 6:28 left in the third quarter.
"When we shoot the ball like the way we did in the first quarter, we continue to settle for outside shots," Lucas said. "We've got to get a nice mix of inside and outside."
But Person responded with a jumper and 3-pointer to rebuild the lead to six points.
"When the team is down, they count on me as being a leader," Person said. "My role this year has changed. The guys are looking for me when things are going bad."
A 3-pointer by Jones closed the quarter and gave Cleveland a 77-69 lead. Rookie Trenton Hassell made a 3-pointer to pull the Bulls within 79-75 before Person drilled another 3-pointer and Skinner worked the backboards for three foul shots in a 9-0 run.
"I thought Person was one of the differences in the game," Floyd said.
"The Cavs didn't make the shots that they made in the first half," Bulls guard Ron Mercer said. "We had a chance to get caught up, but it took a lot out of us."
Andre Miller had 12 points and 12 assists and Zydrunas Ilgauskas also scored 12 points for the Cavs, who shot 49 percent (41-of-83) and scored 24 points off 14 turnovers by the Bulls.
Mercer scored 23 points, Hassell added 18 and Fizer 13 and 12 boards for the Bulls, who shot 39 percent (32-of-83). Fizer did not score after Skinner was put on him late in the third quarter.
"I really didn't pay attention to it," Skinner said. "My goal is to help the defense, give the team a spark and win the ballgame."