New-Look Cavaliers shake off sluggish start to beat the Chicago Bulls 119-112 Tuesday

The Chicago Bulls put up a good fight Tuesday night at the Q, but despite falling behind by double-digits in the first quarter, the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a second-half comeback over the Bulls, picking up a 119-112 win to advance to 3-1 on the season. The Cavaliers' ability to play down to their competition reared its ugly head again. They put in the minimum-required effort but still came up with a win.

This was interesting game from the start, as the Bulls took off to a 20-6 and by halftime, the lead was down to 3. The Cavaliers have been outscored 74-46 in the first quarter of the last two games. Coach Tyronne Lue was not impressed and had a lot to say to his team at halftime:

“Just defensively, we’ve got to get better,” he said. “We play teams like this that move around a lot, playing hard, younger guys; we’ve got to do a better job respecting these guys. Until we do, we’re going to get off to slow starts, we’re going to be in dogfights every single night. We can’t continue to start games the way we’ve been starting them.”

Lue has been experimenting with lineups and combinations because of new players and injuries. He put out another new starting five — his third in three games — against the Bulls, moving James to the point, and starting Tristan Thompson, who came off the bench in each of the Cavaliers' first three games, at center so Love wouldn't have to guard 7-foot-1 Robin Lopez the entire game. Through three games, the Cavaliers have recorded a defensive rating of 112.3 with Love on the floor and a rating of 95.3 when he sits.

Lebron James ended up with a double-double, leading all scorers with 34 points and also handing out 13 assists. Four other Cavaliers managed to also post double figures, with Kevin Love also contributing a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Also, Jeff Green chipped in 16 points and Kyle Korver and Dwayne Wade, who asked Coach Lue to take him out of the starting lineup, each added 11 points apiece.

The 46 points from the Cavaliers' bench didn't get unnoticed by Lebron James:
"The bench won us the game, " James said. "But we have to come out with a greater sense of urgency."

The Chicago Bulls have decided to go in the complete opposite direction than the Cavaliers, as they will be subtlety tanking for the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. Bulls' rookie Lauri Markkanen finished the game with 19 points and eight rebounds, including going 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Former Cav Kay Felder finished with 13 points and four assists while shooting 50% from three-point land.

COMING UP FOR THE CAVS: The Cleveland Cavaliers (3-1) go on the road to take on the Brooklyn Nets (2-1) on Wednesday with tipoff at 7:30 pm.