Keys to the game: Chicago Bulls open the new year with a rematch against Cleveland Cavaliers

The Bulls visit the Cavaliers following Saturday's 103-102 loss at United Center.

© Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls (16-20) visit the Cleveland Cavaliers (23-14) for a rematch, following a 103-102 loss on Saturday—DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals, and Ayo Dosunmu added 19 points and five steals.

Chicago Bulls (16-20) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (23-14) 

Monday, January 2 – 07:00 PM ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Chicago Bulls

• Points Per Game: 113.8 (16th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 114.8 (18th of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 32 (23rd of 30)
• Pace: 99.9 (13th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 112.6 (19th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 113.6 (15th of 30)
• Net Rating: -1 (22nd of 30)

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Points Per Game: 111.2 (26th of 30)
• Opponent Points Per Game: 106.2 (1st of 30)
• Bench Points Per Game: 29.1 (27th of 30)
• Pace: 95.6 (30th of 30)
• Offensive Rating: 114.4 (11th of 30)
• Defensive Rating: 109.2 (1st of 30)
• Net Rating: +5.2 (2nd of 30)

Contain Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert started for the Cavaliers on Saturday and had 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting and 3-of-9 from three-point range with seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 37 minutes.

The Cavaliers turned to LeVert, as Darius Garland missed the game with a right thumb sprain, and he stepped up and delivered a game-high scoring performance. Cleveland needed every single one of those points to hang on and escape Chicago with the win. The Bulls must prevent the 28-year-old from replicating Saturday’s production to improve to 1-2 on the season series against the Cavs.

Play with pace

The Cavaliers are the slowest-paced team in the NBA, averaging a league-worst 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes. The Bulls average 99.9 possessions per game (13th in the league), and they tried to play with pace on Saturday.

Chicago scored 20 points off Cleveland’s 21 turnovers and almost won the game. Controlling the tempo is a must for the Bulls on Monday; they’ve beaten low-possession teams like Toronto, Boston, Dallas, and Miami, and playing with pace can lead to their 17th win of the season.

Noteworthy:

• Cleveland beat Chicago two of the last three times.

• The Bulls are 5-5 in the last 10 matchups against the Cavaliers.

• Bulls’ projected lineup: Vucevic, Williams, DeRozan, LaVine, Dosunmu

• Cavaliers’ projected lineup: Allen, Love, Stevens, LeVert, Mitchell

• Chicago Bulls injury Report: Lonzo Ball is out with a left knee injury; Alex Caruso (right AC joint sprain) and Derrick Jones Jr. (left ankle sprain) are probable; Javonte Green (right knee soreness) is questionable; Tony Bradley (personal reasons) is doubtful to play

• Cleveland Cavaliers injury report: Ricky Rubio (left ACL surgery) is out for the Cavaliers; Darius Garland (right thumb sprain) and Evan Mobley (right ankle soreness) are listed as questionable