The Chicago Bulls start off the season on a high note as they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-95 in the season opener. With the much anticipated matchup between the Eastern Conference’s two heavyweight teams, the Bulls got to strike first.
Nikola Mirotic started the game off hot and never cooled down. Mirotic scored 19 points on 6-10 shooting with nine rebounds but was riddled with foul trouble throughout the game. Derrick Rose game into a nice rhythm as he finished the game off with 18 points with five assists. Butler struggled from the field throughout the night but managed to put up 17 points with five rebounds and one big steal to seal the game.
It was Joakim Noah’s first official game off the bench and he showed up big time. Noah left the game with a knee contusion and did not return. Gibson and Noah grabbed 19 rebounds off the bench combined, which was well over Mirotic and Gasol’s combined numbers at just seven. Pau Gasol struggled to find himself a useful role as he scored two points for the game but came away with six big blocks.
President Barack Obama attended the game to support his hometown team. Obama, a long time Bulls fan, came to Chicago for police chiefs conference but stayed to watch the Bulls as they beat down the Cavaliers.
