Game ID: 22500384
Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Friday, December 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 32 23 44 26 125CHI 32 34 35 35 136
CHI @ CLE ScoutingCHI @ CLE Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 12/06 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 9 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 4 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
BACK Ball back 12/03 after 2, 23 min since (111% of 21)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/30 after 3, 17 min since (102% of 16)
NEW Tyson 24 to 30 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/12 · 5 days' restOUT Allen missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 10 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 5 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 3 since 12/03, out tonight
BACK Ball back 12/03 after 2, 23 min since (111% of 21)
BACK Porter Jr. back 11/30 after 3, 17 min since (100% of 16)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
NEW Tomlin 14 to 20 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 6 since 11/30, returns tonight: 23 min (83% of 28)
OUT Merrill missed 11 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 6 since 11/30, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 4 since 12/03, returns tonight: 6 min (63% of 10)
BACK Ball back 12/03 after 2, 23 min since (113% of 21)
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/17 · 2 days' restOUT Merrill missed 12 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 7 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 23 min since (83% of 28)
BACK Ball back 12/03 after 2, 26 min since (123% of 21)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 6 min since (63% of 10)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 2 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 13 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 8 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 6 min since (63% of 10)
NEW Tyson 24 to 33 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Mobley missed 3 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 14 since 11/19, returns tonight: 26 min (104% of 25)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 9 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 27 min since (97% of 28)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 13 min since (129% of 10)
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Mobley missed 4 since 12/14, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 10 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 25 min since (90% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 26 min since (104% of 25)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 11 min since (103% of 10)
CLE availability going into 12/25 · 1 day's restOUT Mobley missed 5 since 12/14, returns tonight: 25 min (77% of 33)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 11 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Allen back 12/14 after 6, 25 min since (91% of 28)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 26 min since (104% of 25)
BACK Proctor back 12/14 after 4, 10 min since (98% of 10)
NEW Bryant 11 to 18 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 12/27 · 1 day's restOUT Nance Jr. missed 12 since 11/30, out tonight
BACK Mobley back 12/25 after 5, 25 min since (77% of 33)
BACK Merrill back 12/22 after 14, 27 min since (108% of 25)
CHI availability going into 12/07 · 1 day's restOUT Jones missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Okoro missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Huerter missed 2 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 4 since 11/29, out tonight
BACK White back 12/05 after 3, 26 min since (91% of 29)
BACK Terry back 12/03 after 5, 19 min since (169% of 11)
NEW Dosunmu 26 to 33 min over the last 4
CHI availability going into 12/12 · 4 days' restOUT Jones missed 3 since 12/03, returns tonight: 25 min (93% of 27)
OUT Okoro missed 8 since 11/22, returns tonight: 26 min (97% of 27)
OUT Huerter missed 3 since 12/03, out tonight
OUT Smith missed 5 since 11/29, returns tonight: 17 min (81% of 21)
BACK White back 12/05 after 3, 26 min since (88% of 29)
BACK Terry back 12/03 after 5, 18 min since (165% of 11)
NEW Dosunmu 26 to 34 min over the last 4
CHI availability going into 12/14 · 1 day's restOUT Huerter missed 4 since 12/03, returns tonight: 24 min (103% of 24)
BACK White back 12/05 after 3, 27 min since (92% of 29)
BACK Jones back 12/12 after 3, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Okoro back 12/12 after 8, 26 min since (97% of 27)
BACK Smith back 12/12 after 5, 17 min since (81% of 21)
BACK Terry back 12/03 after 5, 17 min since (155% of 11)
NEW Dosunmu 26 to 33 min over the last 3
NEW Carter 11 to 16 min over the last 4
CHI availability going into 12/17 · 2 days' restOUT Dosunmu missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Carter missed 2 since 12/12, out tonight
BACK White back 12/05 after 3, 27 min since (94% of 29)
BACK Jones back 12/12 after 3, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Okoro back 12/12 after 8, 25 min since (92% of 27)
BACK Huerter back 12/14 after 4, 24 min since (103% of 24)
BACK Smith back 12/12 after 5, 15 min since (70% of 21)
BACK Terry back 12/03 after 5, 16 min since (148% of 11)
CHI availability going into 12/19 · 1 day's restOUT Dosunmu missed 3 since 12/12, returns tonight: 14 min (53% of 26)
OUT Carter missed 3 since 12/12, out tonight
BACK White back 12/05 after 3, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Jones back 12/12 after 3, 25 min since (91% of 27)
BACK Okoro back 12/12 after 8, 27 min since (100% of 27)
BACK Huerter back 12/14 after 4, 25 min since (106% of 24)
BACK Smith back 12/12 after 5, 15 min since (72% of 21)
CHI availability going into 12/21 · 1 day's restOUT Carter missed 4 since 12/12, out tonight
BACK Jones back 12/12 after 3, 24 min since (89% of 27)
BACK Okoro back 12/12 after 8, 25 min since (93% of 27)
BACK Dosunmu back 12/19 after 3, 14 min since (53% of 26)
BACK Huerter back 12/14 after 4, 23 min since (99% of 24)
BACK Smith back 12/12 after 5, 15 min since (73% of 21)
CHI availability going into 12/23 · 1 day's restOUT Carter missed 5 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Terry missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Jones back 12/12 after 3, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Okoro back 12/12 after 8, 24 min since (88% of 27)
BACK Dosunmu back 12/19 after 3, 15 min since (58% of 26)
BACK Huerter back 12/14 after 4, 23 min since (97% of 24)
BACK Smith back 12/12 after 5, 15 min since (71% of 21)
CHI availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Carter missed 6 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Terry missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Dosunmu back 12/19 after 3, 16 min since (59% of 26)
BACK Huerter back 12/14 after 4, 24 min since (100% of 24)
CHI availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Carter missed 7 since 12/12, out tonight
OUT Terry missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
BACK Dosunmu back 12/19 after 3, 18 min since (67% of 26)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 118, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Mobley at 19 a game. Without Mobley (2 straight), Merrill (13 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 119, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; White at 20 and Giddey at 17 a game. Without Dosunmu (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Cleveland 120, Chicago 114.
12/06 vs GSW 94-99 — CLE notes
CLE lost 94-99. CLE took 21 more shots (107 to 86), fed by 24 offensive rebounds, but shot 35% to GSW's 38%, 10 of 42 from three, and got to the line just 12 times against 18 fouls committed. The glass went 61-46 for them. Mitchell led with 29 (11 of 26, 7 of 14 from three); Mobley added 18, Garland 17. Q1 was theirs, 18-12, but the other 3 periods went 87-76 against them. Garland's -14 in 32 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 @ WAS 130-126 — CLE notes
CLE won 130-126. CLE shot 42% (41 of 97) to WAS's 49%, 15 of 53 from three. CLE turned it over 7 times to WAS's 16. Mitchell led with 48 (17 of 31, 8 of 15 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Mobley added 23, Garland 18. The hinge was Q4, 45-26: CLE came in trailing by 15 and left it ahead by 4. Ball was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/14 vs CHA 111-119 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-119 in 1 overtime. CLE shot 40% (38 of 95) to CHA's 44%, 12 of 38 from three, and went to the line 29 times to CHA's 21 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. Garland led with 26 (8 of 19, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Mitchell added 17, Tyson 16. Q4 was theirs, 32-23, the deficit cut from 9 to 0, but the other 4 periods went 96-79 against them. Mitchell's -12 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/17 @ CHI 111-127 — CLE notes
CLE lost 111-127. CLE shot 48% (42 of 87) to CHI's 56%, 12 of 39 from three. CLE turned it over 20 times to CHI's 15, and CHI turned those into 12 steals. Mitchell led with 32 (11 of 23, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Tyson added 21, Garland 15. Q1 was theirs, 34-33, but the other 3 periods went 94-77 against them. They led by as many as 12. Garland's -18 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs CHI 125-136 — CLE notes
CLE lost 125-136. CLE shot 48% (48 of 101) to CHI's 52%, 14 of 39 from three. Garland led with 35 (13 of 27, 6 of 12 from three); Proctor added 16, Tomlin 15. Q3 was theirs, 44-35, the deficit cut from 11 to 2, but the other 3 periods went 101-81 against them. They led by as many as 11.
12/22 vs CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 121, shooting 42 percent and 30 from three, 23 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Mobley (3 straight), Merrill (14 straight). 2 days' rest. Charlotte comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 45 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Knueppel at 25 and Bridges at 22 a game. Without Sexton (6 straight), Williams (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Charlotte at 39 percent from three to Cleveland's 30 and the line, where Cleveland takes 23 free throws a game to Charlotte's 18. Call it Cleveland 119, Charlotte 115, Charlotte keeping it close.
12/23 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 128, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 32 and Garland at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mobley (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 31 from three, 26 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and Murphy III at 20 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without McGowens (2 straight), Jordan (26 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 115 a night to Cleveland's 128 and the glass, where New Orleans has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-5. Call it Cleveland 122, New Orleans 121, New Orleans keeping it close.
12/25 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 32 and Towns at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without McBride (5 straight), Shamet (13 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 126, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Garland at 23 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Mobley (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-6 a night and Cleveland minus-4 and the defense, New York allowing 114 a night to Cleveland's 126. Call it New York 121, Cleveland 117, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/27 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 22 free throws a game; Durant at 27 and Thompson at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 128, shooting 51 percent and 41 from three, 18 free throws a game; Mitchell at 31 and Garland at 21 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Cleveland minus-2 and the defense, Houston allowing 117 a night to Cleveland's 128. Call it Houston 122, Cleveland 118, Cleveland keeping it close.
12/07 vs GSW 91-123 — CHI notes
CHI lost 91-123. CHI shot 36% (32 of 89) to GSW's 50%, 11 of 40 from three. The glass went 38-51 against them. Giddey led with 18 (6 of 15, 3 of 6 from three); Buzelis added 16, Carter 13. Q3 was theirs, 30-27, the deficit cut from 14 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 96-61 against them. Dosunmu's -35 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 @ CHA 129-126 — CHI notes
CHI won 129-126. CHI shot 55% (52 of 94) to CHA's 53%, 10 of 28 from three, and went to the line 19 times to CHA's 10 — 15 points from the stripe to their 8. The glass went 44-32 for them. Giddey led with 26 (10 of 17, 2 of 4 from three); White added 20, Williams 16. The hinge was Q4, 40-34: CHI came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 3. CHI trailed 55-61 at the half and won the second half 74-65. Collins was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
12/14 vs NOP 104-114 — CHI notes
CHI lost 104-114. CHI shot 41% (38 of 92) to NOP's 46%, 13 of 49 from three, and got to the line 17 times to NOP's 25. The glass went 43-53 against them. White led with 20 (8 of 18, 1 of 10 from three); Huerter added 16, Vučević 12. Q1 was theirs, 26-21, but the other 3 periods went 93-78 against them. Williams's -13 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/17 vs CLE 127-111 — CHI notes
CHI won 127-111. CHI shot 56% (50 of 89) to CLE's 48%, 14 of 36 from three. CHI turned it over 15 times to CLE's 20. White led with 25 (8 of 13, 3 of 5 from three, 6 of 7 at the line); Giddey added 23, Vučević 20. The hinge was Q4, 32-23: a lead of 7 became 16, and the lead reached 19. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
12/19 @ CLE 136-125 — CHI notes
CHI won 136-125. CHI shot 52% (53 of 102) to CLE's 48%, 18 of 47 from three. Buzelis led with 24 (9 of 15, 2 of 8 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Vučević added 24, Giddey 17. The hinge was Q2, 34-23: from level to 11 ahead. Jones was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
12/21 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 21 free throws a game; Johnson at 24 and Alexander-Walker at 20 a game. Without Porziņģis (5 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Giddey at 19 and White at 18 a game. One day's rest.
So: Atlanta wins, and the game turns on the defense, Chicago allowing 120 a night to Atlanta's 127. Call it Atlanta 121, Chicago 119, Chicago keeping it close.
12/23 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 134, shooting 47 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Johnson at 25 and Alexander-Walker at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Porziņģis (6 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 125, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; White at 20 and Giddey at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Chicago has been plus-2 a night and Atlanta minus-4 and the defense, Chicago allowing 125 a night to Atlanta's 134. Call it Chicago 125, Atlanta 123, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/26 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 129 a night and allowing 125, shooting 52 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; White at 21 and Vučević at 18 a game. That is 4 straight wins. 2 days' rest. Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 112, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 32 free throws a game; Embiid at 29 and Maxey at 27 a game. Without Oubre Jr. (16 straight), Watford (11 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 112 a night to Chicago's 125 and the line, where Philadelphia takes 32 free throws a game to Chicago's 23. Call it Chicago 120, Philadelphia 119, Philadelphia keeping it close.
12/27 vs MIL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 122, shooting 52 percent and 39 from three, 25 free throws a game; White at 19 and Giddey at 18 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 100 a night and allowing 112, shooting 44 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Porter Jr. at 18 and Rollins at 16 a game. Without Gia. Antetokounmpo (8 straight), Prince (23 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the defense, Milwaukee allowing 112 a night to Chicago's 122 and the turnovers, Milwaukee giving it away 18 times a game to Chicago's 13. Call it Chicago 121, Milwaukee 113.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CHIAD A. Dosunmu
CW C. White
IO I. Okoro
JG J. Giddey
JS J. Smith
KH K. Huerter
MB M. Buzelis
NV N. Vučević
PW P. Williams
TJ T. Jones
VU Vucevic
ZC Z. Collins
CLEDG D. Garland
DH D. Hunter
DW D. Wade
JA J. Allen
JT J. Tyson
LB L. Ball
LT L. Travers
NT N. Tomlin
TB T. Bryant
TP T. Proctor
CHI/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Buzelis and Vucevic score 24 apiece to lead Bulls to 136-125 victory over short-handed Cavaliers
CLEVELAND -- — Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic each scored 24 points as the Chicago Bulls pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 136-125 victory over the reeling Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Vucevic, who also grabbed 15 rebounds, had 11 points and six boards in the fourth quarter as the Bulls won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 19.
Seven players scored in double figures for Chicago. Josh Giddey had 17 points and Tre Jones added 16 off the bench.
Darius Garland scored a season-high 35 for Cleveland, which was missing All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell due to illness. All-Star forward Evan Mobley will be sidelined for at least another week with a calf injury.
Rookie guard Tyrese Proctor scored 16 points in his first NBA start, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin had 15 off the bench.
The Cavaliers have dropped three straight and four of five. They've also lost five of their last six home games.
The game was tied at 115 before Chicago took control with a 17-8 run. Vucevic had seven points during the spurt, including a go-ahead layup.
Chicago had a 66-55 lead at halftime and was up 74-60 early in the third quarter before Cleveland fought back with a 27-9 surge. Jarrett Allen had 10 points and four rebounds while Garland scored nine points with four assists during the run.
Cleveland scored the game's first 11 points before Chicago began to come back with six points on one trip down the floor. Buzelis hit a 3-pointer before Jaylon Tyson received a Flagrant 1 foul. Buzelis hit the free throw and Vucevic added a layup.
Game official Tre Maddox injured his leg at the end of the first quarter, reducing the officiating crew to two the rest of the game: Ray Acosta and Phenizee Ransom.