Chicago

- Maybe John Lucas was right.

Lucas, coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, wasn't in a hurry to declare the Cavs as a team ready to make that next step up. Sure, the Cavs de feated the New York Knicks at home on Friday night, and many in attendance were in a celebratory mood - except Lucas. He knew better. And last night might have proven his point.

Twenty-four hours after snapping a two-game losing streak, the Cavs suffered a 103-80 loss to the Chicago Bulls last night at the United Center. This was the Cavs' worst loss since a 20-point defeat at Dallas on Dec. 13.

"This was Memphis all over again," said Lucas, refering to Memphis winning its first home game on Nov. 17 against the Cavs. "Here's a game that was going to be tough because it was like a playoff game for a team trying to win for their new coach. We didn't match their intensity, and we didn't shoot the ball well."

The Bulls (5-23) are arguably the worst team in the league. Depending on the day, it's either the Bulls or Miami.

Last night was also the coaching debut of Bill Cartwright, who took over for Bill Berry after two games. Berry took over for Tim Floyd, who resigned last week.

"I knew we were walking into a lion's den because of their new coach, and we're coming off an emotional home win," Lucas said. "It was a bad night for us. Just a bad, awful night for us."

Chris Mihm, who fouled out, led the Cavs with 13 points. Andre Miller had 10. Ron Mercer led the Bulls with 15. Ron Artest had 14 and Trenton Hassell had 12.

The first quarter was so tight that neither team could get more than a three-point lead. The Cavs (11-18) led by two with three minutes left in the period, but a quick Bulls' spurt gave them a 19-16 lead. Jones led the Cavs during the first quarter with seven points. His trey near the end of the quarter tied the score at 19. Hassell snapped the tie with a jumper for a 21-19 lead going into the second quarter.

The Bulls continued its spurt during the second quarter. Marcus Fizer's two free throws gave the Bulls a 28-19 lead. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who came in early during the quarter, stopped the Bulls' spurt behind two free throws. It only delayed two quick Bulls' buckets for a 32-21 lead with 7:53 left before the half.

The Cavs were due for a move, and it came in the form of Mihm. Mihm scored six of the Cavs points during a 12-4 run for a 38-33 deficit.

But Fizer and Mercer shredded the Cavs' defense by scoring inside and out. Fizer started the scoring campaign with a layup, and Mercer ended the 9-2 surge with a jumper for a 12-point lead.

Lucas was caught in the heat of the moment when he received a technical with less than a minute left. Lucas was enraged when Ricky Davis was called for a foul when he blocked Fizer's dunk. The Bulls closed out the half with a 53-40 lead.

The Bulls outshot the Cavs 42.9 percent to 38.9 percent from the field in the first half and outrebounded the Cavs, 27-19. Fizer and Mercer led the Bulls with 11 points each. Mihm scored 12 first-half points for the Cavs.

The Bulls ran away during the third quarter. The Cavs were in such a funk that when Mihm fouled out with 2:37 seconds left in the quarter, the Bulls held a comfortable 76-53 lead.

The Cavs are 1-3 since starter Lamond Murray injured his back against Indiana on Dec. 22. Murray said he's day-to-day.

With or without Murray, the Cavs have to find a way to regroup before its next game on Jan. 2 against Golden State.

"There's no time to hold our heads down," Bryant Stith said. "We have to move on and get the new year started on the right foot. It's going to take a lot of focus on our part."