CHICAGO_The Chicago Bulls played without Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, Noah Vonleh and Robin Lopez Saturday night at the United Center.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were without Kevin Love, Rodney Hood, Kyle Korver, Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman and Tristan Thompson.
One team still had LeBron James.
That team won.
An engaged James finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists for his first regular-season triple-double in Chicago as the Cavaliers concluded a six-game trip 3-3 with their 114-109 victory. It's the 70th triple double of James' Hall-of-Fame-bound career. James also sank the dagger jumper over Paul Zipser with 39 seconds left for a six-point lead. And for good measure, he saluted the United Center crowd after spiking Cameron Payne's shot into the first row on the ensuing possession.
"It's fun to watch him," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "It's not fun to play against him."
That certainly would be the case for Zipser, Payne and Cristiano Felicio, all of whom found themselves isolated against James to predictable results.
"He's obviously playing at as high a level as he has his entire career," Hoiberg said. "He's doing so many things to make the game easier. If you're one second off him, he's making that on-time, on-target pass. That dunk over (Jusuf) Nurkic is one of the most incredible plays I've seen all year."
That dunk came on Thursday in Portland, Ore., over the Trail Blazers center. James also wrecked a United Center rim but with no defensive resistance.
There wasn't much from anybody as the Cavaliers opened the second quarter with a 16-0 run and led by 17 at halftime. But the Bulls clawed back to tie matters twice in the fourth on 3-pointers from Denzel Valentine and Payne, a half where associate head coach Larry Drew took over for an ill Tyronn Lue for the Cavaliers. It's the second time this season Lue fell ill while coaching against the Bulls.
Insert punch line here.
Then again, Valentine's career-high night was stone cold serious.
On the same day his older brother, Drew, advanced to the Sweet 16 with Loyola as an assistant coach, Denzel posted career-highs with 34 points and eight 3-pointers. The latter fell just one shy of the franchise record shared by Nikola Mirotic and Ben Gordon.
But Valentine fouled Jordan Clarkson for a four-point play with 1 minute, 27 seconds left to kill the buzz created by Payne's tying 3-pointer.
Payne finished his first career double-double of 13 points and a career-high 10 assists. Bobby Portis and Felicio also posted double-doubles of the points-rebounds variety.
With all the injuries, the Bulls started Payne, Justin Holiday, Valentine, Zipser and Felicio. Jerian Grant re-entered the rotation as the backup point guard.
None of the Bulls' injuries are considered serious. Dunn said he hopes to return from what's basically turf toe on his big right toe soon. LaVine had a mild flareup of tendinitis on his surgically repaired left knee. And Markkanen missed his third straight game with his lingering back issues.
Hoiberg reiterated there are currently no plans to shut down any players.
"Lauri got a good individual weight room workout (Saturday) and some conditioning in," Hoiberg said. "I would anticipate Lauri would be back before too long."
