A Rose Blooms in Cleveland; Bulls Squeak By Cavaliers 86-85

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

If you are a regular of these pages then you are well aware that I believe we are living in the “Golden Age Of The Point Guard” in the NBA. We have witnessed first hand what players like Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo just to skim the surface can accomplish. Last season Derrick Rose won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and helped his team the Chicago Bulls take the Boston Celtics to seven games before losing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Thursday night on National Television Rose may have taken the next step in his evolution as an elite NBA player as he was the difference maker in the Bulls 86-85 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rose recorded a double-double scoring 14 points and dishing off 11 assists but it was more than just the line score. Derrick Rose controlled the tempo down the stretch against one of the best teams in the NBA as well as arguably one of the top three players in the Association in LeBron James.

LBJ led all players with a game high 25 points and both Shaquille O’Neal and Anderson Varejao recorded double-doubles. Cleveland had the chance to win the game twice in the closing seconds but an ill advised trey and then a shot that hit the side of the backboard by Mo Williams lost both those opportunities. The Cavaliers were troubled by turnovers (12 by Cleveland giving up 12 points versus 5 by the Bulls resulting in no points allowed) and a terrible night at the line shooting only 60% (12-20) for the night.

Both teams had a strong first quarter with Cleveland having a slim 27-25 lead at the end of the period. The Cavaliers went stone cold from the field in the second quarter and the Bulls took full advantage of that grabbing a 46-43 lead as the two teams went into the locker room at the half.

Cleveland would take their first lead of the second half with 7:03 left in the third as Mo Williams knocked down a 23 point trey giving his team a 52-50. The score though would volley back and forth throughout the period however the Cavaliers would end the quarter on top 65-63 courtesy of a Daniel Gibson trey with 0ne second left on the clock.

The Bulls looked like they were on their way to a rather easy victory as they took an 84-78 lead with 2:34 to play when center Brad Miller laid the ball up and in. Cleveland though would cut the lead to a single point as LeBron James drained a 25 foot trey with 1:32 left in the game cutting the Chicago lead to 86-85. Those would be the last points scored in the game.

Luol Deng led the Bulls with 15 points while Derrick Rose recorded a double-double; 14 points, 11 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal. John Salmons also scored 14 points for Chicago while rookie forward Taj Gibson had a nice night adding 11 more. Brad Miller was a key component for the Bulls down the stretch as the veteran center came off the bench and put up 10 points on the scoreboard.

LeBron James led all players with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. Shaquille O’Neal recorded a double-double as he had 14 points and 10 rebounds while Anderson Varejao also had a double-double as he scored 12 points and grabbed 13 boards. Mo Williams and Anthony Parker would score 11 points each. Chicago improves to 3-2 and will host the Charlotte Bobcats Saturday night. Cleveland after the loss is back at .500 with a record of 3-3 and will play Friday in MSG as they take on the New York Knicks.

Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox

Promote:

Comments

3 Responses to “A Rose Blooms in Cleveland; Bulls Squeak By Cavaliers 86-85”

For the Record (Honolulu Advertiser) | Photo 2001 « Celebrity Buzz on November 6th, 2009 12:27 am

[...] A Rose Blooms in Cleveland; Bulls Squeak By Cavaliers 86-85 » Slam … [...]
Tweets that mention A Rose Blooms in Cleveland; Bulls Squeak By Cavaliers 86-85 » Slam Dunk Central -- Topsy.com on November 6th, 2009 11:57 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by XL Sports Cast and NBA News, Rim Dunkwear. Rim Dunkwear said: A Rose Blooms in Cleveland; Bulls Squeak By Cavaliers 86-85 – If you are a regular of these pages then you are well… http://ow.ly/15ZSwz [...]
uberVU - social comments on November 6th, 2009 5:36 pm

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by SlamDunkCentral: A Rose Blooms in Cleveland; Bulls Squeak By Cavaliers 86-85:
If you are a regular of these pages then you are .. http://bit.ly/21hxRy…