5 takeaways from Chicago Bulls’ late collapse against Cleveland Cavaliers for their 2nd loss in as many nights

5 takeaways from Chicago Bulls’ late collapse against Cleveland Cavaliers

The Chicago Bulls suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season after fading late in a 128-122 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Throughout most of the season, the Bulls had been reliable in clutch moments, an important part of their effort to reshape their reputation in the Eastern Conference.

Strong clutch performance ended

Before Saturday’s game, the Bulls had won all four contests decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes of regulation. These victories were powered by gritty effort and key, last-second plays, boosting the Bulls’ surprising climb in the conference standings. However, their streak of clutch success came to an end in Cleveland with their first close-game loss of the season.

First-half dominance vs. second-half collapse

The severity of the Bulls’ collapse was highlighted by their strong offensive momentum early on. Despite allowing the Cavaliers to start with a 7-0 run, the Bulls tightened their defense in the second quarter, building a 16-point halftime lead and extending it to 19 points in the second half.

Donovan Mitchell’s impact fuels comeback

After securing clutch wins earlier this season through pure effort, the Bulls struggled against Donovan Mitchell’s explosive second-half performance. The Cavaliers star managed just three points in the first half, shooting 1-for-10, but quickly turned the tide, scoring 26 points and hitting several three-pointers to ignite the comeback.

"Mitchell quickly heated up in the second half, scoring 26 points while peppering 3-pointers to fuel a comeback."

This turnaround exposed vulnerabilities in the Bulls' defense and ended their run of late-game resilience.

Summary

The Bulls’ strong start and earlier clutch success collapsed under renewed pressure from Mitchell, resulting in consecutive losses that challenge their standing in the conference.

Author's summary: The Bulls’ late-game reliability faltered against the Cavaliers as Donovan Mitchell’s second-half surge ended their winning streak and exposed defensive weaknesses.

Chicago Tribune — 2025-11-09