LeBron, Cavs destroy Bulls to even series at 1-1

The Cleveland Cavaliers had no intention of going back to Chicago down 2-0. 

After trailing from start to finish in an ugly Game 1, they repaid the Bulls with a wire-to-wire win of their own, leveling the Eastern Conference semifinal with a 106-91 decision.  

With Tristan Thompson inserted into the starting lineup in place of Mike Miller (a disaster in Game 1), the Cavs served notice right away that they were going to be a different team. 

Related: Smooth Performance of the Night - LeBron and his headband carry Cavs to Game 2 victory

Thompson hit frontcourt mate Timofey Mozgov with a high-low feed at the six-minute mark of the first quarter to put Cleveland up 10, and, from that point on, the Bulls never got the deficit back down to single digits. 

By the end of the first quarter, the Cavs were up 20, and the romp was on. 

After a dominant first game, the ever-inconsistent Derrick Rose slumped to a 6-of-20 shooting night, while Jimmy Butler looked exhausted from the effort of having to check a refocused LeBron James. 

The Bulls shot just 40.5 percent for the game, and never seemed interested in getting themselves back into it. 

Turning Point

Quite simply, there wasn't one. 

The Cavs dominated from opening tip to final buzzer, and momentum never once changed hands. 

Instead, much like how Cleveland's curious roster choice served as a "turning point" in Game 1, the decision to rectify it turned the tide for Game 2. Thompson finished with 12 rebounds (six on the offensive glass), and helped to completely neuter Chicago's frontcourt attack. 

Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol finished with a combined 15 points and 11 rebounds. 

Star Performer

The King stay the King. 

After a lackluster Game 1 (a wire-to-wire loss) in which he was bottled up by Butler and often lacked assertiveness, James took the heat, even as his coach tried to divert it. 

"I wasn't that good," James said. "I have to be much better."

True to his word, he was much, much better in Game 2. He played with no semblance of passivity, which was clear from the opening tip. After four minutes, the Cavs were already up 10-2, and James had scored or assisted on each of his team's baskets. After 10 minutes, it was 30-14, and James had 14 points and three assists. 

With Kevin Love out of commission, James seemed to realize he'd need to carry a heavier load. Even though his jump shot wasn't falling, James piled up points by attacking relentlessly, punching through the Bulls' defensive wall and finishing at the rim. 

All told, James attempted 29 field goals, his third-highest total of the season and the most he's attempted in the postseason since 2009, before he'd ever donned a Miami Heat uniform. 

He finished with a game-high 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block, and the Cavs outscored the Bulls by 31 in his 34 minutes on the floor. 

Let's just say he earned himself a cryo-bath.

Highlight Reel

One of the few highlights from the Bulls on the evening was the incredibly rare sight of Mike Dunleavy slashing to the hoop and throwing down a two-handed jam.  

James was a little late with the help. 

Here's how Dunleavy followed up his most electric highlight of the postseason: 

James played with a whole lot of bounce in his step. 

Series at a Glance

Game 1: Bulls 99, Cavaliers 92 (Bulls lead 1-0)
Game 2: Cavaliers 106, Bulls 90 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: Friday, May 8, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: Sunday, May 10, 3:30 p.m. ET
Game 5: Tuesday, May 12, TBD 
Game 6*: Thursday, May 14, TBD
Game 7*: Sunday, May 17, TBD

* If necessary