LAS VEGAS -- Maybe the blood pouring from Cavaliers center Ante Zizic's nose was a bad omen for his friend, now former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

You see, Zizic and Miocic were both born in Croatia and now of course live in Cleveland. So, they're pals. They hang out.

Well, Zizic was playing for the Cavs in the Las Vegas Summer League Saturday night in an 86-81 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Across town at T-Mobile Arena, Miocic was to fight Daniel Cormier with the heavyweight belt on the light. The fight was to take place not long after the Cavs-Bulls summerfest concluded.

Late in the fourth quarter, Zizic was popped in the nose. Blood gushed onto his jersey, and he finished the game with gauze coming out both nostrils.

It was hardly a knockout -- Zizic had his second monster game in the Summer League so far, this time with 25 points and 11 rebounds. But the Bulls nevertheless drew blood and, it's true, the Cavs did lose.

Zizic and Cavs coach Tyronn Lue were among those going as fast as they could out of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center to make the fight. Who knows if they arrived before Miocic was knocked out in the first round.

"With Stipe, I'm coming to see him tonight, so hopefully he wins," Zizic said.

It didn't work out. But Zizic is doing OK out here.

Zizic, 21, has scored 41 points with 25 rebounds in two Summer League games. The 6-11, 250-pound center was acquired along with two other players and two draft picks (one turned out to be Collin Sexton) in last summer's blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving.

Zizic averaged 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 32 games for the Cavs as a rookie. He spent hours each week working on the side with then-Cavs player development coach Vitaly Potapenko on post moves, and toiled in the G League, too.

But injuries in Cleveland's frontcourt forced the Cavs to play Zizic real minutes in March, and he responded with games of 15, 11, 14, and 13 points. His career high was 20 points in the season finale against the Knicks.

"When he had opportunities for us, he played well," Cavs summer coach James Posey said. "He's been waiting for this opportunity. He put in the work all season long for this moment right here and he's been taking advantage of it."

Zizic would figure to be the Cavs' fourth big man heading into next season, behind Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and Larry Nance Jr. Zizic couldn't get ahead of them for playing time during the playoffs.

But Cavs general manager Koby Altman believes Zizic proved he was a rotational player last season. Much of his production Saturday against the Bulls came in a matchup with No. 7 overall pick Wendell Carter Jr.

"One of my goals to improve was to be patient in the post because the whole time I was in a rush," Zizic said. "Now, when I pick up my pace, it seems good."

So neither Zizic nor Miocic pulled out a W on Saturday. Their native Croatia fared far better at the FIFA World Cup, beating Russia 4-3 in a semifinal.

"I watched the whole game, this was the first time I didn't take a nap (before a basketball game," Zizic said.

Sexton finished with 14 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Cedi Osman (rest -- he flew for 14 hours from Istanbul to Los Angeles on Thursday) and Billy Preston )quad contusion) didn't play.

The Cavs (1-1) continue Summer League play at 5 p.m. Monday against the Pacers.