2015 NBA Playoffs: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers Tie Series With Chicago Bulls

LeBron James carried the load for the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers in beating the Chicago Bulls, 106-91 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Without Kevin Love, who is lost for the entire postseason because of a shoulder injury, and J.R. Smith, who is serving the second of his two-game suspension, James finished with a game-high 33 points and added 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Kyrie Irving added 21 points and 2 steals and Iman Shumpert had 15 points with four three-pointers for the Cavaliers.

Unlike in the opening game of the best-of-seven affair when James was relatively silent in the scoring department, the Cavaliers leader was aggressive from the start and helped Cleveland get a huge 38-18 lead after the first quarter. The Cavaliers blitzed the Bulls, 13-2 to start the game.

James had 19 points in 42 minutes in Game 1 but bounced back with 33 in 32 minutes in Game 2.

The Bulls never seriously threatened after the bad start as the Cavaliers ran away with the blowout victory to tie the series at one game apiece. Chicago was led by Jimmy Butler, who finished with 18 points and 2 steals. Butler was named the 2014-2015 NBA Most Improved Player earlier in the day.

Derrick Rose struggled from the floor missing 14-of-20 shots for 14 points while Pau Gasol had 11 points for the Bulls, which shot just 33-of-79 field goals for 40.2%.

Tristan Thompson, who had 12 rebounds, started at the power forward spot for the Cavaliers, which out-rebounded the Bulls, 45-37 and also had more offensive rebounds, 14-11.

Game 3 of the Cavaliers-Bulls series is on Friday in Chicago, where the next two games of the best-of-seven affair will be held.

To contact author of this article, email j.quizon@IBTimes.com.au.