DeMar DeRozan scores 35 points, Bulls beat Cavaliers 132-123 in 2OT

CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 35 points, Andre Drummond grabbed 26 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 132-123 in double overtime Wednesday night.

DeRozan scored 16 points after 10 minutes of overtime. Nikola Vucevic added 24 points and 13 rebounds and Drummond 17 points as the Bulls bounced back from their loss to Detroit to beat one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavaliers are coming off a wild 121-119 win over Dallas, with Max Strus hitting a 59-footer as time expired. Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Darius Garland scored 23 while making 7 of 14 3s. Donovan Mitchell finished with 19 points, but the Cavaliers took the lead after winning 12 of 15.

DeRozan missed a turnaround late in regulation with the game tied at 103 after Chicago rallied from 11 down in the fourth. He made three free throws to tie the game in the first quarter and cap an 8-0 run to start the second.

DeRozan made a layup and scored a 3-pointer to give the Bulls a 120-115 lead. A layup by Drummond and a free throw by DeRozan increased the lead to eight, and the Bulls continued from there.

The Cavaliers led 114-110 after Mitchell made a layup with 26 seconds left in the first quarter. But the Bulls aren’t done yet.

DeRozan drove away from his job. Mitchell made a free throw with 14 seconds left to make it a three-point game, but he missed a second time.

DeRozan was then fouled making a 3 from the field and made all three free throws to tie the game with 12 seconds remaining. Mitchell advanced from 20 feet and missed, sending it to a second overtime.

The Cavaliers appeared to be in control, leading 89-78 early in the fourth quarter after Okoro made a 3, but the Bulls came roaring back.

Vucevic gave Chicago a 98-97 lead with 3:45 left when he connected from beyond the arc. The score was 100 when Mitchell nailed a step-back 3 with about 2:15 left.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) defends Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Drummond then scored on a rebound to make it a one-point game, and a tough finish in regulation sent the game to regulation. Vucevic missed an open 3 in the final minute, got the ball and made his second free throw to tie the game after missing the first with 38 seconds left.

Coby White then intercepted a Mitchell foul pass, giving the Bulls a chance to win the game. But DeRozan missed a 21-foot turnaround jumper in the final seconds.