Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 30, 2019 ) Chicago 111, Cleveland 117

Two struggling teams that have each lost eight of their last 10 games square off when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. Cleveland lost its third straight game by falling to the host Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, while Chicago also was on the road and suffered a defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Cavaliers trailed by as many as 21 to the red-hot Grizzlies and were down 18 with 10 minutes to play before staging a rally that fell short in a 113-109 setback that was the fifth contest in a six-game excursion. "Obviously, it didn't go our way," Cleveland center Tristan Thompson told reporters. "We kept battling. The challenge is for us to go to Chicago and end this road trip 3-3." The Bulls trailed by 10 after three quarters but were unable to make a run and they succumbed 100-89 to the 76ers. Standout guard Zach LaVine tallied 23 points and has scored 20 or more in nine consecutive games as he bids to make the All-Star team for the first time.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: FS Ohio, NBCS Chicago Plus

ABOUT THE BULLS (15-28): Third-year power forward Lauri Markkanen had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting against the 76ers, marking the fourth time in five games he took nine or fewer shots. "We do have to get him the ball," Chicago coach Jim Boylen told reporters afterward. "Some of it is on him, some of it is on me. We got to get him going ... I just want him to be aggressive in his opportunities." Markkanen sees it differently than his coach, saying "I didn’t feel that I had the opportunities where I could really attack the closeout so I just tried to play the system and find the open man."

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (12-30): Second-year guard Collin Sexton recorded 28 points and six assists against the Grizzlies and has scored 25 or more in three of the past four contests. "I feel like I had an all-around good game," Sexton told media afterward of his play against Memphis. "We didn't come up with the win but we will bounce back (Saturday) against Chicago." The 21-year-old continues to display that he is a building piece for the future by scoring 20 or more points in 11 of the past 16 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Cavaliers have won six of the past nine meetings, including a 117-111 victory on Oct. 30.

2. Thompson collected eight rebounds to move into third place in franchise history with 5,233, passing Brad Daugherty (5,227).

3. Chicago PG Kris Dunn was scoreless Friday and is 4-of-17 shooting over the past three games.

PREDICTION: Bulls 105, Cavaliers 102