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Kyrie Irving will face Derrick Rose on Monday when the Cavaliers visit Chicago in what will be the first showdown between the talented point guards.

(AP Photo/Morry Gash)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – To hear Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose talk about it, you'd almost think that the entire NBA world hasn't been waiting for this precise moment for more than two years.

"It's another game," Irving said, shrugging.

"I try not to get into matchups," Rose told Chicago media.

They might be the only ones. Monday's game between the Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls will be the first time that Irving and Rose have faced each other, the first time that two of the league's top point guards have gone head-to-head.

And it's a moment for which many have been waiting. Injuries have prevented the 2009 Rookie of the Year and 2011 MVP (Rose) from facing the 2012 Rookie of the Year (Irving) until now.

Three opportunities when their teams faced each other during Irving's rookie season came and went without both players on the court at the same time, both held out for injuries at various times. And then, of course, Rose missed all of last season while recovering from ACL surgery.

Now, Irving has established himself as one of the top guards in the NBA, and is fresh off a 39-point, 12-assist performance in the Cavaliers' double-overtime victory over Philadelphia, a showing that included yet another Irving game-winner at the buzzer. He is averaging 19.9 points on 39-percent shooting, and 8.0 assists per game.

"He's a great young player," Rose said. "Just for me, I try not to get into matchups. Just go out there and just play. If we were winning, I'd probably get into it. But we're just trying to win games right now."

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The 2-3 Bulls are searching for consistency as much as the 3-4 Cavaliers early in this season. Rose is still finding his way, averaging 14.4 points on just 32-percent shooting.

"Always playing any Bulls team, with D-Rose or without him, they're a good team," Irving said. "But now that they have him, they're a threat. Obviously he's a great point guard, a great player in our league and I have a lot of respect for him."

But the Cavaliers, too, have enough issues of their own to figure out without focusing on the individual matchup. Coach Mike Brown shook up not only the starting lineup by moving Alonzo Gee to the small forward spot, but also altered the rotation to give reserves Henry Sims and Matthew Dellavedova their first significant playing time of the season.

Earl Clark, who started the first six games at small forward, didn't play a minute against the Sixers.

"It's tough for us because as you can tell, we're still searching," Brown said after the double-overtime victory over the 76ers. "We're not done, yet. I still don't know what I have."

Brown did find chemistry while employing a three-guard lineup featuring Irving, Dion Waiters and Jarrett Jack for the first long stretch this season. The three guards combined for 83 of the team's 127 points against the Sixers.

"I think everybody has different dynamics and we can all apply them as we see fit," Jack said. "It's tough to guard guys coming at you in waves, so to speak. It's kind of like a football team that has three running backs. They have one guy who breaks the long runs and substitute another fresh guy in. That's tough for a defense to have to deal with."

So Irving and Rose would prefer if you didn't look at this game as Kyrie versus D-Rose, Part 1. After all, they're not focused on that.

"I get up for everybody," Irving said, "so it really doesn't matter."

Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

Tipoff: Monday, 8 p.m., United Center

TV/radio: FSO; WTAM AM/1100

Notable: Carrick Felix (sports hernia) is out. ... Carlos Boozer leads the Bulls with 18.2 points per game. ... Chicago opponents have a .412 shooting percentage. ... The Cavaliers are winless in four road games. ... Dion Waiters is averaging 21.0 points on 49 percent shooting over his last three games.

-- Jodie Valade