Cavs, preseason, Bulls, Isaac Okoro, Jazz

Cavaliers

For a team with championship expectations, the Cavs sure looked ready to get back to work in the first part of their preseason-opening loss to the Bulls.

Second-year wing Jaylon Tyson joked pregame that he was tired of going up against his own teammates in scrimmages.

On Tuesday night, Cleveland finally saw a different uniform, and for a while, everything looked like a continuation of last season’s dominance.

It took less than five minutes for the starters — Donovan Mitchell, De’Andre Hunter, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Tyson (starting for the injured Sam Merrill) — to build a 17-6 lead. The pace was fast, the spacing sharp, and the Bulls needed a timeout before the first TV break.

Coach Kenny Atkinson planned to use his starters in three short bursts, and the first one delivered. Cleveland’s opening group outscored Chicago 22-11 in roughly six minutes before a full five-man substitution.

The second unit looked just as polished. Craig Porter Jr., Lonzo Ball, Dean Wade, Larry Nance Jr. and Nae’Qwan Tomlin closed the first quarter up 37-26. The Cavs shot 58 percent, hit four threes, piled up 10 assists, and forced nine turnovers in the opening 12 minutes. It looked a lot like last year’s 64-win campaign.

The night didn’t stay that easy. Chicago used an 18-2 run late in the first half to erase the double-digit deficit, then rallied again in the fourth to steal a 118-117 preseason win.

Rookie Tyrese Proctor (14 points) provided a spark, but the Cavs couldn’t close the door. Thomas Bryant’s last-second layup attempt was swatted away with 0.3 seconds left.

“There are things we’re emphasizing,” Atkinson said. “One of them is being more active, creating turnovers. I thought we did that tonight. We were active with our hands. Active in the gaps. That was a real positive. But the defensive rebounding — that’s where they really, really killed us.”

The Bulls won the glass battle 51-33.

Hunter looked right at home in his new starting role, scoring 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbing seven boards in 18 minutes.

“Dre is a bucket,” Nance said. “He’s looked awesome, and I’m excited for a huge year from him.”

Porter matched Hunter’s 17 points and drilled all five of his threes, a performance Atkinson attributed to his offseason transformation.

“It starts with his body,” Atkinson said. “He’s pushed himself to the 90th percentile of conditioning. Moving great. That was a real positive tonight to see him play well.”

Mobley added 12 points, while Nance and Tomlin chipped in 11 apiece.

Ball, making his Cavs debut against his former team, went scoreless in 12 minutes but looked poised as the second-unit organizer — a role Cleveland expects him to grow into as the season progresses. Merrill sat out with a minor adductor issue.

Bulls

The loudest cheer of the night at Rocket Arena came for a visitor. When Isaac Okoro’s name boomed over the speakers during introductions, Cavs fans rose to their feet. They didn’t forget the five years of hustle, defense, and quiet professionalism.

“It was some mixed emotions,” Okoro admitted. “It’s a preseason game right now, so it hasn’t all kind of hit me, but it was good seeing the guys. I had been with them for five years, so just seeing them was definitely a good feeling for me.”

Before the game, Okoro’s former teammates made sure to greet him — Darius Garland and Dean Wade with hugs, Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell with smiles and jokes. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson couldn’t hide his admiration.

“He is in your group of favorite players you coach,” Atkinson said. “Even keeled. Kind. Coachable. Teammates loved him. Never complained. He’s one of those rare breeds. I told Billy [Donovan], I said, ‘Billy, man, you’re just going to love this guy. He’s a coach’s dream.’”

Once the ball tipped, Okoro did what Cavs fans had seen countless times. Namely, he defended like his job depended on it. He knocked down two threes, finished with 11 points, and was a +8 in 18 minutes.

For the Bulls, Okoro represents a tone-setter.

“We’ve got to be better than the sum of our parts,” coach Billy Donovan said. “We’ve got to become way more physical — offensive rebounding, loose balls, deflections, charges. We got to manufacture extra possessions.”

Sounds like Okoro.

Jazz

Training camp has begun in Utah, but one question looms over the Jazz, as written by Sarah Todd of the Deseret News.

That question: who’s starting at point guard?

Last season ended with Isaiah Collier as the de facto starter, largely by default. He’s got speed and passing touch, but his 24.9% three-point shooting and inconsistent defense leave room for challengers.

Rookie Walter Clayton Jr., a sharpshooter who hit 38.6% from deep in college and led Florida to an NCAA title, isn’t shy about his ambitions.

“For sure, I think everybody on the team can say that,” Clayton said when asked about competing for the job. “If you’re not doing that, then why are you really here?”

No roles are locked in for the rebuilding Jazz, but whoever wins the starting PG spot will be tasked with setting the table for a roster searching for identity.