Bulls–Cavaliers rivalry
Michael Jordan's Bulls beat Cleveland in five playoff series; LeBron's Cavs evened the score.
The Bulls and Cavaliers have met since Cleveland joined the NBA in 1970, but the rivalry took off after Chicago drafted Michael Jordan in 1984 and was revived when Cleveland drafted LeBron James in 2003.
Quick Facts
- First meeting
- December 20
- 1970; Bulls 116
- Cavaliers 103
- Latest meeting
- March 19
- 2026; Cavaliers 115
- Bulls 110
- Total meetings
- 276
- Current win streak
- CLE W1
- Longest win streak
- CHI W13
- Regular season
- 134–107 (CHI)
- Postseason
- 20–14 (CHI)
- Section header
- Postseason history
Facts from the source article.
Background
Chicago beat Cleveland in the 1988 playoffs, and on May 7, 1989 Jordan ended a deciding Game 5 of the first round with 'The Shot' over Craig Ehlo - a moment Cleveland fans count in the city's sports curse. The Bulls won again in the 1992 conference finals, swept Cleveland in 1993 with another Jordan series-winner at the Richfield Coliseum, and swept them again in 1994. On March 28, 1990 Jordan scored a career-high 69 points in a 117-113 overtime win at Richfield. With James, Cleveland beat Chicago 4-1 in the 2010 first round and won their 2015 second-round series in six games.
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