Rookies Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller propel Cavs past Bulls

Chicago, IL, United States (4E Sports) – Dion Waiters scored 18 points and Tyler Zeller contributed 10 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers hung on for an 86-83 victory against the Chicago Bulls in Friday’s preseason game at Assembly Hall in the University of Illinois.

With their rookies leading the charge, the Cavs overcame a late surge from the Bulls to improve their preseason record to 2-1.

Waiters, the fourth-overall pick in the 2012 Draft, knocked down all his four treys from beyond the three-point arc while Zeller went 3-for-4 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line.

The Cavs had a 10-point lead with 2:02 left but the Bulls used an 8-0 spurt to get Cleveland within two points with 29 seconds remaining.

Nate Robinson had a chance to even the ballgame but his driving layup went awry. Zeller was hacked after grabbing the rebound and split his free-throws to make it a three-point ball game, 86-83.

Jimmy Butler tried to send the game into overtime but his Hail Mary hurl went in and out.

Kirk Hinrich scored 14 points and Taj Gibson racked up 12 points and 7 boards for the Bulls, who recorded 22 turnovers.

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