Cavaliers Hand Bulls Loss, NBA Scores

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Published on February 19 2016 6:29 am
Last Updated on February 19 2016 6:29 am

There was no loud music, none of the usual joking around inside Cleveland's locker room. The mood was somber after a win. The Cavaliers no longer have Anderson Varejao.

LeBron James scored 25 points and barely missed a triple-double, Kevin Love added 15 points and 15 rebounds and the Cavs looked refreshed and refocused following 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.

"In the first two games we didn't match their intensity and got beat," James said. "Today, I think we answered the call."

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. But to get Frye, the Cavs had to deal the wildly popular Varjeao.

He spent 12 seasons with the Cavs, endearing himself to his teammates with his hustle and becoming one of the city's most popular players, known as "Wild Thing" for his all-out style and long, frizzy hair.

James will deeply miss Varejao, his teammate for eight seasons.

"That's the worst part of the business right there," James said. "When you lose a brother, lose a teammate, that's the worst part about it."

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.

 

Thursday, February 18 Scoreboard
    
Washington 103, Utah 89
    
Cleveland 106, Chicago 95
    
Los Angeles 105, San Antonio 86


Friday, February 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

Dallas at Orlando, 6 p.m.

Detroit at Washington, 6 p.m.

New York at Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m.

Miami at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Minnesota at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at New Orleans, 7 p.m.

Indiana at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Charlotte at Milwaukee, 7 p.m.

Houston at Phoenix, 8:30 p.m.

Golden State at Portland, 9 p.m.

Denver at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Boston at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

San Antonio at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.


Saturday, February 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

Milwaukee at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 6:30 p.m.

New York at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Golden State at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.


Sunday, February 21 Schedule (All Times Central)

New Orleans at Detroit, 2:30 p.m.

Cleveland at Oklahoma City, 2:30 p.m.

Boston at Denver, 4 p.m.

San Antonio at Phoenix, 4 p.m.

Charlotte at Brooklyn, 5 p.m.

Indiana at Orlando, 5 p.m.

Memphis at Toronto, 5 p.m.

Philadelphia at Dallas, 6 p.m.

Los Angeles at Chicago, 7 p.m.

Utah at Portland, 8 p.m.