The Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-92 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 25 points (16 in the first half) 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol combined for 41 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for the Bulls.
Kyrie Irving had a game-high 30 points for the Cavaliers. Iman Shumpert had a career-playoff high 22 points. LeBron James finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists and 6 turnovers.
The Bulls got off to a 10-2 and eventually a 25-11 start to the game. Mike Dunleavy scored 13 of their first 27 points making his first five shots from the floor and hitting all three of his three-point attempts. The Bulls started out shooting 5-for-7 from three with 8 assists on their first 11 made baskets, and shot 52 percent in the first quarter. The Cavaliers shot 5-for-20 in the first quarter and were outscored 27-15, which was the lowest scoring quarter for the Cavaliers all season.
The Cavaliers made their push midway through the second quarter between LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and energy from Tristan Thompson. 10 straight points from Irving sparked a 12-4 Cavs run which cut the Bulls lead down to 6. The Cavaliers won the second quarter 29-22, but the Bulls kept their shooting percentage above 50 percent in the first half. Kyrie had 17 points and Derrick Rose had 16 points in the first half. The Bulls shot 6-for-9 from three and over 50 percent (13-for-25) from outside the paint in the first half. The Cavaliers shot 52 percent in the second quarter.
It was a 25-15 start for the Bulls in the third quarter, including a 15-0 run after the Cavaliers tied the game five minutes into the quarter. The Bulls scored 32 points in the third quarter where Pau Gasol shot 6-for-7 from the field and scored 13 points of his 21 points. Chicago had an 11-point advantage going into the fourth quarter.
The Cavaliers were able to cut their deficit down to two with under six minutes left, but the Bulls’ execution and shot-making outweighed the Cavaliers down the stretch. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving both went scoreless over the final six minutes. Chicago shot 50 percent from the field and were too comfortable finding good looks out of their two-man action throughout the game.
