Garland’s 35 Not Enough as Depleted Cavaliers Fade Late Against Bulls

You can only ask so much of a roster before the seams start to split. On a Friday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Cleveland Cavaliers found that breaking point.

Missing their offensive engine in Donovan Mitchell and their defensive anchor in Evan Mobley, the Cavaliers scrapped, clawed, and rallied their way into a tie game with minutes remaining. But the tank eventually ran dry. Overwhelmed by a balanced Chicago attack and bullied on the interior by Nikola Vucevic, Cleveland collapsed down the stretch, falling 136-125 to the Bulls.

It was a night that encapsulated the recent frustrations for the Cavaliers, who have now dropped three straight games and five of their last six at home. The effort was undeniable—Darius Garland played like a man possessed—but the result was a familiar sting for a team searching for stability.

A valiant effort falls short in the fourth

For a moment in the fourth quarter, it looked like the Cavaliers might pull off an improbable heist. After erasing a halftime deficit with a blistering 27-9 surge in the third quarter, Cleveland stood toe-to-toe with Chicago, knotting the score at 115. The crowd, sensing a turnaround, was electric.

But crunch time is where superstars make their money, and the Cavaliers were simply shorthanded. Without Mitchell to create a bucket out of nothing or Mobley to alter shots at the rim, Chicago executed with surgical precision. The Bulls ripped off a decisive 17-8 run to close the game, silencing the arena and sending fans to the exits early.

The disparity in closing capability was stark. While Cleveland struggled to find clean looks, Chicago leaned on their depth. Seven different Bulls players scored in double figures, a testament to ball movement that the fatigued Cavaliers’ defense couldn’t keep up with in the final frame.

Garland shines while Cavaliers miss key stars

If there is a moral victory to be found in the box score, it lies on the shoulders of Darius Garland. The point guard knew he had to be aggressive with Mitchell sidelined by illness, and he delivered a season-high 35 points.

Garland was everywhere. He drained threes (pulling up from deep at the 6:00 mark in the fourth), he drove into traffic, and he dished out eight assists. It was a vintage performance that reminded everyone why he is the franchise cornerstone. But basketball is rarely won 1-on-5.

The absence of Evan Mobley (calf injury) was perhaps even more glaring than Mitchell’s. The Cavaliers were routinely punished in the paint. They missed Mobley’s length on switches and his ability to clean the glass. Every time the Cavaliers needed a crucial stop, the lane felt wide open, exposing a defensive unit that usually prides itself on being elite.

Chicago’s balance proves too much for Cleveland

While Garland was playing hero ball, the Bulls were playing team ball.

Nikola Vucevic was a nightmare for the Cavaliers’ depleted frontcourt. The big man posted a monster double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. He was particularly lethal in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 points and grabbing six boards when it mattered most. His tip-in with under six minutes left and a dagger three-pointer shortly after were the blows that finally broke Cleveland’s back.

Matas Buzelis matched Vucevic with 24 points, while Josh Giddey orchestrated the offense with 17 points. The Bulls shot 52% from the field, a number that is simply too high to allow at home if you expect to win.

Silver linings: Proctor and Tomlin step up

In the midst of the losing streak, the Cavaliers are finding out what they have in their younger rotation pieces. With the lineup shuffled, rookie Tyrese Proctor was thrown into the fire for his first NBA start. He didn’t blink.

Proctor finished with 16 points, showing a level of poise that suggests he belongs in the rotation even when the stars return. His step-back jumper in the fourth quarter showed a flash of supreme confidence.

Off the bench, Nae’Qwan Tomlin provided a spark with 15 points. It’s a small consolation in the loss column, but seeing the bench unit contribute 40-plus points is a positive sign for the Cavaliers’ depth moving forward.

What’s next for the Cavaliers?

The narrative is getting uncomfortable in Cleveland. An 11-0 start to this game feels like a distant memory, washed away by the reality of a 136-point defensive surrender.

The Cavaliers are currently reeling. Losing five of six at home is a trend that needs to be reversed immediately if they want to maintain their standing in the Eastern Conference. The hope is that Mitchell’s illness is short-term and Mobley’s calf heals quickly.

Until then, Garland is proving he can keep them competitive, but he can’t do it alone. The Cavaliers need to find a way to grind out wins, ugly or not, to stop this slide before it turns into a freefall.