CLEVELAND -- LeBron James scored 26 points and J.R. Smith added 20 as the Cleveland Cavaliers entered a favorable portion of their schedule with a 108-94 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Back home after winning two games in Los Angeles to salvage a trip out West, the Cavs had little trouble with the Central Division-leading Bulls. Cleveland opened a 25-point lead in the third quarter and handed Chicago its fourth loss in five games.
Smith made six 3-pointers, Kyrie Irving scored 18 with 12 assists and Kevin Love added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who have won three straight to temporarily quiet talk that they're underachieving and first-year coach David Blatt is in trouble. Cleveland can improve its record with three more home games this week and nine of its next 12 in Quicken Loans Arena.
Derrick Rose scored 18 points for the Bulls, who played their third game in a row without starting center Joakim Noah (sprained ankle).
Cavs center Timofey Mozgov scored 15 with 15 rebounds in his first home game for Cleveland since being acquired in a Jan. 7 trade from Denver.
Playing his fourth game since missing eight with a strained back and knee, James didn't have to carry the offensive load as Cleveland's other starters combined for 69 points.
Leading by 15 at halftime, the Cavs opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run to open a 23-point lead. Love and Smith drained 3-pointers in the spurt that wobbled the Bulls. Chicago got to 90-78 in the fourth, but James scored on a drive and Smith drilled a 3 to put the Cavs back in control.
Jimmy Butler scored 20 for Chicago, which made its push in the fourth with Rose on the bench.
Rose missed his first seven shots and didn't make his first field goal until there was 1:10 left in the first half. None of the Bulls could shoot straight as Chicago shot only 30 percent from the floor in the opening half.
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TIP-INS
Bulls: Rose came in averaging 25.5 points and 8.0 assists in his previous four games. Coach Tom Thibodeau believes Rose is finally getting back to form after two injury-plagued seasons. ''He's gaining confidence,'' Thibodeau said. ''I think he was going through a long period of time where he wasn't playing and just getting that competitive edge back. That's what made him so special prior to the injuries. When he's like that, no opponent wants to see him.'' ... The Bulls are 15-6 on the road. ... F Mike Dunleavy missed his 10th straight game with an injured ankle.
Cavaliers: G Iman Shumpert, who hasn't played since being acquired in a recent trade with New York, could make his Cleveland debut later this week from a dislocated left shoulder. Shumpert has participated in contact drills the past two days, and Blatt said it's even possible the solid defender could start immediately. ... Fresh off Ohio State's national championship, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer and starting quarterback Cardale Jones - a Cleveland native - were introduced to thunderous ovations. Before the game, Meyer visited with Irving and owner Dan Gilbert, a Michigan State alum.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Host San Antonio on Thursday.
Cavaliers: Host Utah on Wednesday.