Tip-off: Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Cleveland -2.5, Total: 211

Old buddies Dwyane Wade and LeBron James meet up in Chicago on Friday night.

The Cavaliers have doubled their loss total for the season in the span of three days, falling to 13-4 (6-10-1 ATS) with a 118-101 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday (MIL +7.5) and a 113-94 loss to the Clippers (LAC +4) on national television last night. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s a -47.5 margin against the spread in two games. Cleveland remains solidly atop the Central Division standings and 1.5 games up on the Raptors in the Eastern Conference. They’re on the back end of a back-to-back tonight on the road against the Bulls, who are second behind the Cavs in the Central Division (and third in the East) at 10-7 (11-6 ATS). They’ve lost two of their last three and three of their last five, with their most recent loss coming at home to the Lakers on Wednesday night, 96-90 (LAL +10.5). Chicago shot only 19 percent from three and SF Jimmy Butler, while the game’s leading scorer with 22 points, shot only 4 of 18 from the field. Over the last five seasons, home teams with winning records playing only their second game in five days (CHI) are 84-46 ATS against winning teams when the line is between +3 and -3. Chicago has the third best record against the spread in the NBA this season and the Cavaliers have the fourth worst. Cavaliers SF Mike Dunleavy missed the game against the Clippers last night with a concussion and appears likely to sit tonight, as well.

The Cavaliers are third in the NBA with an offensive efficiency rating of 116.8 points per 100 possessions, and they are 22nd with a defensive efficiency rating of 110.4 points allowed per 100 possessions. They are right in the middle of the pack in terms of pace, ranking 16th with an average of 94.5 possessions per 48 minutes. The era of PG Kyrie Irving (24.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.4 APG) as the team’s leading shooter and scorer seems to be fully underway this season. He’s averaging career highs in points, field goal attempts (19.1) and three-point attempts (6.2). Despite this increased volume, he’s improved his efficiency—his shooting percentage of 48.3 and three-point shooting percentage of 42.5 are also career highs. It’s not a coincidence that this is taking place at the same time as SF LeBron James (23.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 9.1 APG) looking to score less and pass more. James’ scoring average is the lowest it has been since his rookie year and his 16.9 FGA are a career low, but his assists numbers are a career best. PF Kevin Love (21.4 PPG, 10.5 RPG) finally seems to be fitting in with the Cavs, which is the most encouraging development for the team this season. He’s shooting and scoring more than he did the past two seasons, and he’s grabbing more rebounds, as well. On November 23 against the Trail Blazers, scored 34 points, including eight three-pointers, in the first quarter.

The Bulls are tied for ninth in offensive efficiency with 110.6 points per 100 possessions, a positive development that many did not expect from them this season. They’re ranked third on defense, stifling opponents by allowing only 104.7 points per 100 possessions. They play at an almost identical pace as Cleveland, averaging 94.4 possessions per 48 minutes. Butler (25.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.65 SPG) is 10th in the league in scoring and eighth among small forwards in rebounding. He’s averaging a career-high 16.9 FGA and scoring almost five points per game more than his previous season best, so he has swiftly dispelled any concerns that offseason acquisitions would lower his scoring numbers. The primary cause of that concern, SG Dwyane Wade (18.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.63 SPG), is having a pretty good, if statistically odd, season. Historically a very bad three-point shooter, Wade is shooting 3.3 threes per game, the second most he has ever averaged in a season and the most since 2008-09. He has justified the volume by showing apparent great improvement, shooting what is easily a career-best 37.7 percent from deep. Despite this, however, he is shooting a career-worst 44.4 percent from the field. Scorers Wade and Butler are flanked by a deep frontcourt that includes PF Taj Gibson (11.8 PPG, 8.1 RPG), C Robin Lopez (9.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.0 BPG) and PF Nikola Mirotic (9.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG). PG Rajon Rondo (8.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 7.3 APG, 37.8 FG%) has been something of a disappointment despite his usual full stat line. SF Doug McDermott (10.6 PPG) remains out after missing the last eight games with a concussion.