The Cleveland Cavaliers play the Chicago Bulls on Monday at home after a successful international performance. Cleveland has won four consecutive and is 15-3 versus opponents under.500 this season. Chicago has won four of its previous five, but the Cavaliers hope to improve.
Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls to a 122-116 win over the Spurs on Saturday with 24 points and 16 rebounds. Chicago had 30 or more assists for the third consecutive game and shot 51.1%.
"I feel like we're getting better," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. "I do. I think we're playing the game the way I want. Sharing the ball. We want nice photos. Our points are rising." The Bulls are watching forward Patrick Williams, who has missed two of the previous five games with right ankle pain. Donovan hopes Williams can play against Cleveland.
The Bulls' recent improvement is due to various causes, notably point guard Coby White's growth. The fifth-year veteran is averaging 22.7 points in his previous seven games on 50.9 percent shooting and 47.9 percent from 3-point range.
"The way he's playing right now, the growth in his game is incredible; this stretch he's on," said Zach LaVine. "So we want to keep him in that type of rhythm." Cleveland plays for the first game since beating the Brooklyn Nets 111-102 in Paris on Thursday for the NBA's Global Games.
The game was dominated by Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who scored 45 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and four steals for his fourth double-double of the season.
Donovan came out ready-for-the-moment," Bickerstaff added. "We talked about beforehand how special this game was to be a part of, what it means for the NBA to select you to come over here and represent the league in the game of basketball on a worldwide stage, and I thought Donovan was phenomenal."
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen recorded his ninth straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to push for his second All-Star selection. Guard Caris LeVert scored 21 points off the bench against Brooklyn and is averaging 20.3 points and five assists in his previous seven games. LeVert wants to be the league's Sixth Man of the Year.
"I feel like I should," he said. "I think it's a team award, not an individual one. I think we've handled things well, especially this run. When checking the game, I attempt to supply energy where it's needed. Great teammates created it."
Cleveland has won five straight over the Bulls, including 109-95 at Chicago on Dec. 23. Max Strus, from Chicago, led the Cavaliers with 26 points and seven assists. Allen added 19 points and 17 rebounds.