Cleveland Cavaliers vs Chicago Bulls

The game is set to take place at the United Center in Chicago on October 9, 2025, with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 pm Eastern Time. As a preseason contest, both teams will likely rotate lineups more freely than in regular season games, but the venue and timing are confirmed.

Chicago will be missing Coby White, who is sidelined due to a calf strain, continuing his absence from prior games. On Cleveland’s side, Darius Garland is expected to remain out, recovering from toe surgery, and Max Strus is also likely unavailable as he recovers from foot fracture surgery. Guard Sam Merrill was limited in the preseason opener due to soreness in his abductor, making him a game-time decision. These absences open opportunities for depth players and bench rotations to see extended minutes.

Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson is expected to continue experimenting with lineups in the absence of Garland and Strus, testing how the Cavaliers can maintain offensive flow. One anticipated adjustment is leaning more heavily on Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter to initiate offense, running sets to create scoring opportunities for them. Atkinson may also integrate younger rotation pieces to see how they perform under live conditions. On the Bulls’ side, coach Billy Donovan will need to manage around White’s absence and integrate his backcourt depth. He may lean more on Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond, or other rotational players to fill voids and maintain defensive toughness.

Media previews frame this game as a test of organizational depth: how well Cleveland can adapt without its regular starters, and how Chicago responds to the absence of White. Some outlets suggest the Cavaliers have more flexibility given their roster balance, while others point out that Chicago Bulls playing at home gives them a slight edge in matchups and crowd energy. Commentators are also watching the development of younger players and how each bench performs when called upon.

In studio breakdowns, analysts will likely focus on the frontcourt matchups—how Mobley and Hunter clash with Chicago’s bigs—and whether Cleveland’s interior presence can dominate the paint. They’ll also debate whether the Bulls’ perimeter defense can disrupt Cleveland’s ball movement without Garland. Depth will get attention: which bench units can sustain scoring and defensive intensity. Some analysts may question how smoothly Cleveland can execute offense under rotation stress, and whether Chicago’s reserves can exploit those moments.

Watch and Download Cleveland Cavaliers vs Chicago Bulls – Thursday 09 October, 2025, NBA Full Game and Highlights Replay 2025-2026 – Preseason

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