Waiters sizzles as Cavs sneak past Bulls

Chicago, IL, United States (4E Sports) – Dion Waiters scored 25 points and Shawn Livingston added 15 as the Cleveland Cavaliers overcame the absence of Kyrie Irving to beat the Chicago Bulls, 101-98, Tuesday night at United Center.

After losing to the Miami Heat 109-105 in a tight match on Sunday, the Cavaliers salvaged a big victory on the road.

The impressive part about the Cavs’ recent victory is the fact that they did it without Irving, who’s sitting out with a hyperextended knee.

Waiters, the no.4 overall pick in 2012 Draft, carried the scoring load for his team and knocked down jumpers when it mattered the most.

Unlike many had expected, it was a back-and-forth ballgame with neither team building a double-digit lead. There were 19 lead changes and seven deadlocks as the latest chapter of the rivalry between the Bulls and the Cavs went to the wire.

In the end, the Cavs played much better defense and executed their plays well down the stretch. Waiters’ jumper with 1:21 left on the clock proved to be the dagger for the Bulls, who went 2-2 after All-Star break and 32-25 in the season. Luol Deng scored 26 points and Carlos Boozer had 27 points in a loss.

The Cavs improved their slate to 19-38, though they are still expected to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

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