Chicago needed every bit of Jimmy Butler to get the 118-11 win over Charlotte on Monday night. He answered the call, erupting for 52 points, just a point shy of his career high, to become the eighth player this season to rack up 50 or more points.
The win snapped a two-game slide for the Bulls, who’ll try to put themselves back in the .500 mark with a win in Cleveland. Chicago got the better of the defending champs earlier this season, beating them back at home, 111-105. All five starters scored in double digits there, with Butler’s 26 and Dwyane Wade’s 24 points leading the way.
Wade missed the game against Hornets due to swelling in his knees, which forced Chicago to rely on Butler even more. The 12-time All-Star guard, who is second in the team in scoring (18.8 PPG), is a game-time decision for tonight’s game, but practiced fully Tuesday night. The Bulls badly need Wade for scoring purposes as they are just 23rd in the league in that area, and are already without rookie Denzel Valentine (ankle).
Chicago is 2-8 SU and 3-7 ATS in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Cleveland Cavaliers
There’s no slowing down Cleveland. The reigning champions are 13-2 straight up (10-4-1 ATS) in their previous 15 games, and walk into this game as winners of their last three.
The Cavs’ latest win came against a visiting New Orleans club on Monday night, during which LeBron James really had to take charge with Kyrie Irving (hamstring) out and with his team struggling to find the net (37.8 FG%). He finished with a game-high 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Kevin Love backed him up by recording his 20th double-double of the season: 12 points and 11 boards.
Cleveland also got a huge boost from its bench, which had Channing Frye (14), Richard Jefferson (12) and Kay Felder (12) all scoring in double figures. If Irving (questionable) remains sidelined tonight, the East-leading Cavs will need all the baskets they can get—especially from James or Love—versus a proven Chicago defense that allows 100.6 points per game on the season, the sixth-fewest in the league.
