LeBron James sports Cubs uniform after losing bet with Dwyane Wade

The Cavaliers have now lost three games in a row, leaving Cleveland in a riotous panic.

Chicago scored 78 of their 111 points in the paint – an National Basketball Association high-water mark this season – keeping the Cavs at bay through the second half and sending them to their third straight loss, a 111-105 defeat at the United Center. Meanwhile, the Cavs have lost 3 straight. Using those two games, Friday’s second half, and Sherlock Holmes-like powers of deduction, I was able to infer what transpired in the first half.

Two other Bulls put up 20 points as well. They’re still stinging from the embarrassment of getting smacked around by the Milwaukee Bucks. They held the Cavaliers to 10 free-throw attempts, with James failing to get there once.

And the turnovers. My, oh my, the turnovers.

Something else has to be addressed: the third quarters.

SPURS 107, WIZARDS 105: Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points, including the winning jumper with 6 seconds left, as San Antonio overcame another sluggish start at home to beat Washington.

CLIPPERS 114, PELICANS 96: Blake Griffin had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Chris Paul had 17 points with 13 assists as the Clippers won at New Orleans. The Cleveland Cavaliers star made a friendly wager with friend and his former teammate, Dwyane Wade during the World Series between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs.

“Where I come from if you make a bet and you lose you have to pay up”, James said. It’s time to talk. It allowed Butler some extra time to compose himself, and he went for a big night too, with 26 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Kevin Love added 15 points, while Tristan Thompson had 11 points and Channing Frye had 11 points, as well.

Rajon Rondo also had his way in the lane and posted a triple-double with 15 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds.

It was Butler’s 12th straight game with 20 or more points, which was the longest streak by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan in 1998, via the ESPN telecast. All the Clippers ask of their starting small forward is hit some corner threes and defend well – Mbah a Moute was a key reason LeBron James had a 5-of-14 shooting night. After trading baskets, Wade’s layup with 2:39 to play proved to be the game victor putting the Bulls up 107-101.

“We’ve got to do better”, Lue said after the Cavs’ lead for the top seed in the Eastern Conference fell to just half a game over the Toronto Raptors. “The training staff is looking into it, see how he feels”. “He has to have a couple good workouts with the contact and then we’ll go from there”.

Lebron James, blue looks good on you. The Golden State Warriors play the attractive game – sweet shooters, guys moving off the ball, selflessly passing up good shots for great ones (except Andre Iguodala late in this game, who passed up great for good).