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LeBron, Cavaliers to face Rose, Bulls

Jan 15, 2009 - 7:51 AM Cleveland (30-6) at Chicago (17-22) 8:00 p.m. EST

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- There is little that LeBron James still has to learn on a basketball court. Derrick Rose is following a similar learning curve.

The prodigies will meet on Thursday when the Cleveland Cavaliers face the Chicago Bulls.

James is coming off his second triple-double of the season, collecting 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Tuesday's 102-87 win at Memphis. The superstar swingman ranks second in the NBA in scoring at 27.1 points per game and has added defense to his repertoire this season, regularly shutting down other team's top scorers.

James held Paul Pierce to 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting on Friday and was a key part of rookie O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay combining for 16 points on 8-of-27 shooting against the Grizzlies.

The Cavaliers are the preeminent defensive team in the league, limiting opponents to 88.9 points per game and 42 percent shooting.

Rose will be next on Cleveland's list of scorers to stop.

The No.1 overall pick in June's draft is coming off one of his best games as a professional on Wednesday when he scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and willed the Bulls to a 102-98 win over the Toronto Raptors.

He hit 8-of-9 shots in the decisive period and got to the rim at will, slashing to the basket on high screen and rolls.

Rose was not at his best against Cleveland on January 2, scoring a career-low three points on 1-of-6 shooting in a 117-92 setback. James notched his other triple-double in that win, collecting 16 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.