James Harden scored 36, Evan Mobley added 26 points and 14 rebounds and Cleveland hung on to beat the Chicago Bulls 115-110 on Thursday night at the United Center, even though Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell missed the game because of a bruised left eye.
Harden nailed seven 3-pointers, Jaylon Tyson chipped in with 18 points and 11 rebounds and the Cavaliers hung on after a 29-point lead in the third quarter dwindled to one in the closing minutes.
Bulls guard Tre Jones cut it to 103-102 when he made two free throws with 3:33 remaining. Sam Merrill answered with a 3 for the Cavs.
The Cavaliers were up 110-107 when Jones missed a potential tying 3 and Leonard Miller missed a layup with about a minute left. Harden hit a pull-up jumper to make it a five-point game with 33 seconds left, and the Cavaliers hung on to hand the Bulls their fourth loss in five games and 17th in 21 since Feb. 1.
Mitchell was hurt in a collision in practice with Mobley. The seven-time All-Star played through the injury Tuesday night in Milwaukee and finished with 19 points on 4-for-14 shooting. He said after the game he was having trouble seeing.
Coach Kenny Atkinson said the injury is “nothing serious,” but the Cavaliers need to “let it clear up.”
Jones scored 20 for the Bulls, Rob Dillingham added a season-high 17 and Nick Richards finished with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Up next
- Bulls: vs. Houston Rockets on Monday.
- Cavaliers: at New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
