The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls will meet for the second time this season, with each team looking to change course amid a poor stretch. Will the Cavaliers go 2-0 against Chicago? Or, will the Bulls avenge their loss to Cleveland earlier in the campaign?
Catch this game live on Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 9:00 AM, Manila time
Away: Cleveland Cavaliers (15-12, 6-5 Away)
Projected Starting Five:
- Darius Garland
- Donovan Mitchell
- De’Andre Hunter
- Dean Wade
- Jarrett Allen
It has been a bumpy ride over their last several games for the Cavaliers. Over that stretch, they have gone just 3-6 straight up, and that includes their most recent outing, which was a 119-111 overtime loss at the hands of the Charlotte Hornets at home on Monday.
The Cavaliers are hoping that seeing Chicago again will give them the spark they are looking for. Cleveland defeated the Bulls on Nov. 9 at home, 128-122. Donovan Mitchell and De’Andre Hunter took turns pummeling Chicago in that contest, as each scored 29 points. However, the Cavs will not have Evan Mobley this time around. Mobley, who scored 25 points in the first meeting with the Bulls, is currently sidelined with a calf injury.
The Cavs, who are averaging 118.7 points per game, have won five of their last six regular-season games in The Windy City.
Home: Chicago Bulls (10-15, 6-6 Home)
Projected Starting Five:
- Josh Giddey
- Coby White
- Isaac Okoro
- Matas Buzelis
- Nikola Vucevic
The Bulls are in a much worse shape entering Thursday’s game than Cleveland. Chicago has won just one game in their last nine outings. And in their most recent game, the Bulls suffered a 114-104 home loss at the hands of the visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
Chicago shot itself in the foot repeatedly with turnovers in the Pelicans game. The Bulls turned the ball over seven times after an 81-81 tie in the fourth quarter with New Orleans. Chicago also shot just 41 percent from the field and was a minus-10 in the rebounding battle.
While the Bulls are clearly not in fine shape at the moment, they are also seemingly catching Cleveland at the right time, with the Cavs also not playing great as of late. In the first meeting with Cleveland, no Chicago starter finished with a positive Plus-Minus, with the bench doing most of the job to keep the Bulls competitive. That serves as a challenge for Chicago’s starting unit in this second showdown against the Cavaliers.
The total has hit the Under in all of the Bulls’ last five home games.
Picks
Spread: Chicago Bulls (+5.5)
Over/Under: Under (243.5)
