'I don't back down from anybody': Cavs get punched in mouth by Bulls on ESPN but counter

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Georges Niang knows he hasn't been shooting well from 3-point range lately.

Since Niang shot 13 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 6 on 3-pointers, in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 17, his 3-point percentage in the past 13 games is 32.1.

“Oh, are you telling me I stink, man?” Niang said Wednesday after the Cavs defeated the Chicago Bulls 108-105 at Rocket Mortage FieldHouse and thereby entered the All-Star break on a strong note.

For the sake of clarity, Niang did not speak in a confrontational tone when he asked a reporter a rhetorical question about his slump. The 30-year-old veteran who signed with the Cavs last offseason actually agreed with the line of questioning.

“It's a fact,” Niang continued. “I mean, I haven't been making 3-pointers, so I've got to find other ways to be effective.

“I'm not going to sit here and be offended. That's not how it is. And I know that moving forward I'm going to have to take and make shots, especially in the playoffs. And I'm eager and excited to show you that — or show everybody that.”

Until then, Niang is more than willing to provide a spark with a don't-take-crap-from-anybody attitude.

It suited the Cavs (36-17) well on a night when the Bulls (26-29) seemed to be trying to get under Cleveland's skin even before tipoff.

How Chicago Bulls guard Torrey Craig trolled Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell

As All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell accepted his Eastern Conference Player of the Month award on the court, Bulls forward Torrey Craig stood in front of Mitchell and gave him a thumbs down.

After the game, Mitchell explained he and Craig are friends who at one point shared the same agency.

“It was just all fun and games. I told him to get the f*** out of here,” Mitchell said with a laugh.

Cavs' Georges Niang and Bulls' Coby White each drew a technical foul during an altercation

Trolling a buddy is not what happened, though, when Niang and Bulls guard Coby White exchanged shoves and heated words while combining for a double-technical foul with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter.

As Niang guarded him, White appeared to move his head back in attempt to sell a foul. Then White passed the ball, pushed Niang's left arm down and received a shove in return. Aside from the double technical, Niang picked up his fourth foul during the officiating crew's review of the play. Later, he fouled out with 4:39 remaining and 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 1 of 5 on 3-pointers.

Cavs forward Isaac Okoro called Niang an “enforcer” while discussing the altercation the latter had with White.

“Coming from Isaac, I'm sure that was a little sarcastic, but I appreciate that coming from him,” Niang said. “But, no, I play with a lot of tenacity. I play with a lot of intensity, and that's just who I am.

“I don't back down from anybody, and I hope that rubs off on all our guys 'cause I think we have a great team. We have a chance to do something special.”

How the Cavs have fought back throughout the 2023-24 NBA season

The Cavs have shown resilience time and again this season. They were punched in the mouth by the Bulls out of the gate and trailed 8-0 to start the nationally televised game on ESPN. They fell behind by as many as 17 points in the second quarter.

Yet, the Cavs scored 37 points in the fourth quarter to complete their second-largest comeback this season. They led for the first time when Niang made his lone 3-pointer with 10:40 left to play.

Now the Cavs are second in the Eastern Conference standings as they enter a seven-day hiatus until their next game Feb. 22 at home against the Orlando Magic.

Through 53 games, the 2022-23 Cavs were 31-22. They have five more wins this season compared with the same checkpoint last year.

They had a nine-game winning streak snapped with Monday's 123-121 home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Instead of allowing the setback to snowball, they scratched and clawed to defeat the Bulls.

And rather than letting injuries to point guard Darius Garland (jaw surgery) and forward Evan Mobley (arthroscopic knee surgery) derail their season, the Cavs have established a league-best record of 23-5 since Dec. 16, the day after the organization announced the setbacks to those standout players.

The Cavs have prevailed in 18 of their last 20 games. They have gone 8-1 since both Mobley and Garland returned to the lineup.

What has been the key to the Cleveland Cavs adopting a selfless brand of basketball?

The injuries to Mobley and Garland proved to be a blessing in disguise because coach J.B. Bickerstaff and the Cavs fully embraced a new style of offense highlighted by increased spacing, pace and 3-point shooting along with improved ball and body movement.

Bickerstaff has the Cavs buying into the defensive identity he emphasizes. They have been playing for each other, too. The locker room's camaraderie is evident through the team's selfless brand of basketball.

“We realized early on we had to depend on each other to win games when guys go out, and then we realized how much easier and more fun it is to play that way,” Niang said. “... It's been a joy to come to work. It's been a joy to be a part of this team.

“You want to keep that sacred energy and continue to play that way because it produces great basketball and we win.”

Guard Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with 30 points vs. the Bulls

The Cavs had six players score in double figures against the Bulls: Mitchell with 30, Okoro 16, Mobley 14, center Jarrett Allen 13, Garland 12 and Niang 11.

White scored a game-high 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field. One of his misses was a 3-pointer at the buzzer as the game ended. Niang, Mitchell and Co. had the last laugh.

More Cleveland Cavaliers news: Cavs win nail-biter vs. Bulls as they enter NBA All-Star break

With 29 regular-season games left, the Cavs appear to be on the right track, but everyone knows the postseason will be the ultimate judge after the franchise's 4-1 first-round series loss to the New York Knicks last April.

“We've still got stuff to do for the rest of the season and moving on into the playoffs,” Niang said.

Whether the topic is his shooting or the outlook for the entire team, Niang tells it how it is.

Craig Porter Jr. rewarded by Cavs: Undrafted rookie point guard's two-way contract converted into standard four-year NBA deal

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Georges Niang, Cavaliers didn't back down in win over Bulls