The United Center was rocking when the Chicago Bulls played their arch-rival Cleveland Cavaliers in an Eastern Conference showdown. Fans were treated to an exhibition of both teams' talent at every position, from the experienced veterans of both teams to the up-and-coming stars during the game, where both teams played with great intensity.
Full Game Summary Bulls vs Cavaliers
The two teams were evenly matched in the first quarter, with the Bulls scoring 33 points and the Cavaliers scoring 34 points in a very competitive first quarter. At halftime, the score was 58-62 in favor of the Cavaliers. The third quarter proved pivotal, when the Bulls mounted a 22-6 run, taking a 97-88 lead with sharp passing and timely three-point shooting. The Bulls were able to maintain their lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 30-23 to win 127-111. Chicago shot an amazing 56.2% from the floor (50 for 89), while they made 14 of 36 from behind the three-point line, collected 43 rebounds, and scored 21 points from the Cavaliers’ 20 turnovers. Donovan Mitchell was the leading scorer for Cleveland with 32 points, but they fell short as they only shot 48.3% from the floor.
🇺🇸 Donovan Mitchell today highlights vs. Bulls:
— DV highlights (@DVhighlights) December 18, 2025
🏀 32 POINTS
🏀 5 ASSISTS
🏀 1 REBOUND
Cavaliers lost to Bulls 111-127 ❌ pic.twitter.com/Mj2yNlaq78
Bulls vs Cavaliers Game Highlights
Crowd roared for Giddey's no-look passes leading to dunks, White's step-back threes, and Vucevic's put-backs. Mitchell's crossover drives and Allen's blocks added flair, but Bulls' rhythm dominated the highlight reel.
Bulls vs Cavaliers: Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
- First Quarter Action: Tight battle ended Bulls 33, Cavs 34—early threes from Coby White and strong drives by Donovan Mitchell set a frantic pace right away. Both benches contributed early energy, with Chicago grabbing key offensive boards to stay in it despite trailing by one. Defenses tested each other with switches and traps, forcing tough shots all around.
- Halftime Fight: Bulls down 58-62; Giddey's clutch three at the buzzer and Vucevic's silky hooks in the paint kept things razor-close heading into the locker room. Cleveland built a small edge through Jarrett Allen's rolls to the rim and Mitchell's mid-range magic, but Chicago's bench unit sparked a late surge with quick transitions. Turnovers started creeping up for the Cavs, giving the home team extra looks before the break.
- Third Quarter Takeover: Explosive shift to 97-88 Bulls lead via a game-changing 22-6 run fueled by Josh Giddey's pinpoint assists and White's deep bombs. Chicago's defense ramped up, forcing live-ball turnovers that led straight to fast-break buckets. Vucevic cleaned up misses on the glass, while Cleveland struggled to find rhythm, missing open threes and losing the rebound battle in this frame.
- Fourth Quarter Finish: Controlled 30-23 close with free throws, smart rebounding, and timely stops—Bulls never let the lead slip below double digits. Giddey capped his night with pull-up jumpers, White attacked the rim relentlessly, and the crowd's noise rattled Cleveland into forced shots. Cavs mounted a brief push with Mitchell isos, but Chicago's depth wore them down completely.
Bulls vs Cavaliers Team Stats
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Bulls vs Cavaliers Top Performer
Josh Giddey shone brightest: 23 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists for a triple-double. His playmaking orchestrated Chicago's success, finding cutters in traffic and crashing the boards like a forward pure floor general stuff that elevated everyone around him.
How the Bulls Defeated the Cavaliers So Convincingly
The Chicago Bulls put on an incredible performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, defeating them in a 127-111 blow out. The Chicago Bulls shot 56.2% from the field while holding the Cavaliers to only 48.3%. Chicago totaled 43 rebounds compared to the Cavs 40. On top of this, the Bulls caused the Cavaliers to commit 20 turnovers, which they converted into 21 easy points. Of course, the big third-quarter run of 22-6 sealed the game for the Chicago Bulls by combining the excellent passing ability of Josh Giddey with the shooting touch of Coby White and the strength of Nikola Vucevic.
Bulls vs Cavaliers: Bench Impact
Chicago's bench outscored the Cavs by nine points, with 38 points contributed compared to Cleveland's 29 points. Chicago's second unit provided energy, knocked down open shots, and rebounded the basketball. The Bulls' depth helped them stay fresh late in the game and apply defensive pressure, making the bench vitally important in Chicago's victory.
Bulls vs Cavaliers Current Updates
The Chicago Bulls improved their record to 11-15 and moved up to third place in the Central Division and closer to the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Cleveland Cavaliers dropped to 15-13 and fell to fifth place after this disappointing performance on the road. The current standings are as of December 17, 2025, the date of the game, and the teams will continue to battle through the playoffs.
Fan Reactions Bulls vs Cavaliers
After the Chicago Bulls had a great win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday Night the fan reactions from both teams were very different. The Bulls fans started posting videos of rookie Josh Giddey's triple-doubles all over Twitter and TikTok with the phrase "The New King of The United Center" as well as other memes. There were a bunch of post and comments on the Cavaliers forum venting their frustration with the turnovers saying things like "Mitchell can't do everything by himself where is the help". The Bulls fan base was ablaze with "playoff bound" chants in the forums while there were endless discussions on the Cleveland Reddit about different lineup changes that could be made going forward. All 3 highlight clips received millions of views and comments on their social media platforms.
What's Next for Bulls and Cavaliers
The Bulls are headed on a 3 game road trip starting with a matchup against the Atlantic Division teams and will see if the Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic combination travels well. The Cavaliers will be back home for a revenge game against their Central Division rivals, and Cleveland will be looking for Mitchell to have support from his shooting teammates. Keep an eye out for how the Bulls continue to build off of this momentum leading into the holiday games, and they could go on a big run!
