Box Score & Player Grades: Cavaliers 128, Bulls 122 – November 8, 2025

Box Score & Player Grades: Cavaliers 128, Bulls 122 – November 8, 2025

Less than two minutes into the Chicago Bulls' game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, coach Billy Donovan called a timeout as Chicago quickly fell behind 7-0 after De’Andre Hunter hit a three-pointer. The Bulls had played less than 24 hours earlier against the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Cup. Cleveland, also less than 24 hours removed from the NBA Cup, had scored 148 points against the Wizards while resting their starters in the second half.

Evan Mobley stood out early, scoring 11 of Cleveland’s first 22 points. Despite the slow start, the Bulls remained composed, relying on their depth—a key strength of the team. Towards the end of the first quarter, the momentum shifted as Donovan turned to his bench. Chicago responded with a 14-8 run to close the quarter, turning it into a one-possession game.

The second quarter began with Ayo Dosunmu scoring an and-one layup, giving the Bulls the lead and boosting their confidence. Jalen Smith played a crucial role in the comeback, contributing 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 11 minutes. He entered halftime with an impressive +22 plus-minus, helping Chicago’s bench outscore Cleveland’s second unit 35-14.

As the half progressed, the Cavaliers’ offense struggled, missing 13 consecutive three-point attempts at one point.

“Jalen Smith was a major part of the turnaround, scoring 11 points with 7 rebounds and 3 assists in 11 minutes of action.”

The Bulls’ resilience and bench depth kept them competitive despite facing a challenging start.

Author’s Summary

The Bulls overcame an early deficit through bench strength and key plays by Jalen Smith, but the Cavaliers’ overall firepower secured the 128-122 win.

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