What: Cavaliers vs. New Orleans.

When: 8 p.m.

Where: The Q.

TV/radio: ESPN, FSN Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.

Bulls 102 CAVS 93

Chicago - Into even the most charmed season, a little rain must fall.

After the events of Thursday night, the Cavaliers are going to be depleted for their toughest stretch of games so far. And it will start on the heels of an emotionally and physically taxing overtime loss, 102-93, at the hands of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

Bulls rookie Derrick Rose was the major difference-maker at the end, attacking the Cavs off the dribble and breaking the defense down in crunch time in leading a 12-1 run to start overtime. He also played a role in the biggest Cavs' loss of the night.

Delonte West, a major cog in the Cavs' success over the past three months, suffered a nasty fall in the first quarter defending a Rose shot attempt. He suffered a nondisplaced fracture of his right wrist on the rough landing in addition to opening a gash over his left eye that needed two stitches.

He will have an MRI at the Cleveland Clinic this morning to determine the extent of the damage, but he likely is looking at being out at least two to three weeks.

"I've been punched in the face many times before, I shook that off," West said. "We're on a roll here, we can't have no pity party for me. I'm going to try not to feel sorry for myself. It hurts, but I can still wear my pinkie

ring."

The injury will put him on the shelf for a while alongside center Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury. Considering forward Ben Wallace was out as he recovers from the flu, it turned into quite a grim evening. Especially with dates against the New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers coming in the next six days.

For the cherry on top of the adversity pie, LeBron James was battling a cold, and it contributed to his worst game of the season. He scored 28 points with a season-high 14 rebounds and seven assists but was nothing like himself.

He shot just 8-of-28, missing 13 consecutive shots at one point, including a jumper at the end of regulation that could've won the game.

He turned the ball over eight times, also a season-worst effort, as the Cavs (30-7) relied too much on him dominating the ball. They fell into the old habit of plain pick-and-rolls, which the Bulls combated by often switching Tyrus Thomas onto him. Thomas blocked four shots and scored 15 points in hassling James.

"I had no lift tonight, that happens when I get sick and I miss layups," said James, who wore a coat with a hood for the team's entire shootaround Thursday morning because he was experiencing chills along with congestion.

"It is tough when you can't breathe as good as you want to breathe."

Mo Williams attempted to take some of the burden, scoring 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting. But it was James or 3-pointer or bust. Too often it was bust as the Cavs hoisted 26 3-pointers. They scored 12 points in the paint and had eight assists in the first quarter but finished with just 24 paint points and 16 assists and shot 42 percent.

The Bulls (18-22) just had more energy once the game went to overtime, starting with Rose. He made two free throws with 17 seconds left in regulation that forced overtime and then pushed the ball down the Cavs' throats.

Rose ended up with 16 points, but three of his six assists came in overtime. Luol Deng was the

main mate - he nailed two 3-pointers in overtime to complete a 22-point, eight-rebound night.

"They say all teams go through it, but for some odd reason our team goes through it a little different than everybody else," James said. "I can't remember the last time you had three starters out of a game. You try to pick up the slack, but it was probably my worst game of the season."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bwindhorst@plaind.com, 216-999-5166