The Bulls’ 127-111 win over the Cavaliers wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t a highlight-reel night or a statement game with viral moments.
But it was thorough-and that might be even more impressive. Chicago didn’t just beat Cleveland, they outplayed them across the board: better shooting, more rebounds, more assists, fewer turnovers, more fast-break points, more paint points, more bench production, more points off turnovers.
In short, they did everything right.
And that’s not something we’ve been able to say often about this Bulls team lately.
The matchup didn’t exactly scream “turning point.” Cleveland came in as one of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders, while Chicago’s season has been defined more by inconsistency than momentum.
But the Bulls didn’t just hang in-they dictated the pace and controlled the game. That’s worth a closer look.
A Shift in Identity: From Bench Depth to Starting Strength
Early this season, Chicago’s success was built on depth. The bench was a legitimate weapon, outscoring second units across the league and giving Billy Donovan flexibility with rotations. In fact, the Bulls still rank second in total bench points on the season, a nod to how strong that group was during their 5-0 start back in October.
But things have changed. In December, that same bench ranks just 13th in points per game. Injuries and inconsistency have taken their toll, and the spark that once came from the reserves has dimmed a bit.
So where’s the edge now? It’s shifted to the starting five.
The Starting Five Finds Its Groove
Here’s where it gets interesting. The Bulls’ starting group-Coby White, Isaac Okoro, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic-hasn’t logged a ton of minutes together.
Just 32 minutes total, to be exact. But when they’ve been on the floor as a unit, the results have been eye-opening.
Together, that group is averaging a +3.2 plus-minus and posting a 28.8 net rating. That’s not just good-it’s elite. Among all five-man lineups across the league that have played at least 15 minutes together, this Bulls unit ranks first in net rating, offensive rating, and true shooting percentage.
Yes, it’s a small sample size. But even in limited action, the chemistry and efficiency are hard to ignore.
To put it in perspective, only two other starting units in the NBA-the Clippers and Bucks-have posted better net ratings this season. And both of those lineups have played fewer minutes together than the Bulls’ group due to injuries and lineup shuffling.
Dominant Against Cleveland
The win over Cleveland gave us the clearest picture yet of what this starting five can do when they’re rolling. They logged their longest stretch together-10 minutes-and absolutely took over.
During that span, they shot 16-of-18 from the field, dished out 11 assists, and posted a staggering 173.9 offensive rating. The net rating?
30.4. That’s domination.
Individually, the production was just as impressive. Giddey, Vucevic, and White combined for 68 points, 25 rebounds, 18 assists, and six steals.
Giddey and Vucevic both finished with a team-best +15 in plus-minus. It wasn’t just efficient-it was complete, balanced basketball from a group that’s still learning how to play together.
What This Means Moving Forward
This doesn’t mean the Bulls have suddenly turned into contenders overnight. That early-season magic-the surprise wins, the high-energy bench play-that’s not coming back in the same form. But that doesn’t mean Chicago is out of answers.
What’s emerging now is a new identity. A healthy starting five that can compete with the best, and a bench that, if it can get back to early-season form (especially with Ayo Dosunmu returning to full strength), could still be a difference-maker.
The Bulls don’t need to be perfect to make a run-they just need to know who they are. And after a win like this, they’re starting to look like a team that finally does.