Refreshed Cavaliers Flatten Bulls After All-Star Break
CLEVELAND (AP) -- LeBron James scored 25 points and barely missed a triple-double, Kevin Love added 15 points and 15 rebounds and the Cleveland Cavaliers looked refreshed from the All-Star break with a 106-95 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night.
James had nine rebounds and nine assists in 35 minutes for the Cavs, who lost their first two matchups with Chicago this season. But the Bulls are broken, missing three key players because of injuries.
Cleveland has its sights set on finishing with the East's best record and earlier in the day the club acquired forward Channing Frye from Orlando in a three-team trade the Cavs hope can get them an NBA title. They had to part with popular center Anderson Varjeao and a future first-round pick to obtain Frye, who has not yet joined his new squad.
Derrick Rose scored 28 points and Pau Gasol had 14 for the Bulls, just 5-14 since they were a season-best 10 games over .500 on Jan. 9. Chicago is currently without Jimmy Butler, Nikola Mirotic and Joakim Noah.
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