These are the games Bill Cartwright believes the Bulls are supposed to win. These are the games where progress can be measured.
The Bulls faced a Cleveland team playing its second road game in as many nights Saturday, the same Cleveland team that is tied with Denver for fewest victories in the league.
And the Bulls took advantage, somewhat erasing the stench from Friday’s dismal performance against Washington with a nail-biting 85-79 victory before an impressive crowd of 21,236 at the United Center.
Jalen Rose shook off a stomach virus and fever to lead the Bulls with 19 points, including a clutch baseline jumper with 42.1 seconds left that was his only second-half basket. Tyson Chandler added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Bulls, who ran their home record to 11-6. The Bulls didn’t win their 11th home game last season until Feb. 22.
As usual, Saturday’s win didn’t come easily.
The Bulls watched a 20-point, first-half lead completely evaporate when Cleveland ripped off a 19-3 fourth-quarter run that was aided by four Bulls turnovers.
But Chandler scored back-to-back baskets, the latter a nifty reverse layup with 2 minutes 45 seconds left that gave the Bulls the lead for good.
The Bulls led 79-76 after two Rose free throws with 2:08 to play. After a Zydrunas Ilgauskas free throw and a Bulls turnover, Cleveland missed three shots on one possession. Rose then provided a four-point cushion with his clutch 12-foot baseline shot.
Despite his illness, Rose played 44 minutes and also contributed eight assists.
Bad news came early when Jay Williams sprained his left ankle 4:11 after tipoff and didn’t return. X-rays proved negative, but Williams watched the second half in street clothes and is day-to-day.
Williams incurred the injury when he landed on Darius Miles’ foot after a spectacular block and rolled his ankle. Williams had raced downcourt after having his own shot blocked by Miles from behind.
In Williams’ absence, Jamal Crawford played a season-high 40 minutes and scored five points. He struggled with his shot, going 2-for-8, and also committed seven turnovers. Crawford contributed seven assists and four rebounds.
Following a season-long trend, the Bulls won a game that they began impressively. The Bulls yielded a season-low 12 first-quarter points and a season-low 33 first-half points and attacked the basket early.
“When we don’t get off to good starts, we don’t play a good game,” Cartwright said before the game. “It’s our aggressiveness or our not dictating things offensively and defensively that leads to our downfall. The more aggressive we are, the better.”
Chandler began the game with back-to-back, alley-oop dunks before picking up two quick fouls and ceding to Eddy Curry, who awoke from a sluggish stretch with six points and three rebounds in 11 first-half minutes. Curry didn’t play in the second half.
Cleveland, paced by Ilgauskas, who finished with 27 points, pulled to within 49-39 after scoring the first six second-half points. But Trenton Hassell drained back-to-back jumpers, including a three-pointer, to push the Bulls’ lead back to 15.
Hassell had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Corie Blount played 14 minutes and hit both of his shots.
