Donovan Mitchell, in a moment of pure pressure, almost gave the ball away twice but somehow recovered and sank a clutch jumper to snatch a dramatic 114-113 victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-0) over the Milwaukee Bucks (1-5).
Mitchell took center stage, putting on a show with 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jarrett Allen provided a steady foundation with a solid 15 and 12. Evan Mobley displayed an all-around brilliance with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists while Okoro and Merrill generated a crucial spark off the bench, shooting a combined 8-for-13 from three.
For Milwaukee, Damian Lillard went berserk, dropping 41 points, including a scorching 10-for-15 display from distance, complete with 4 rebounds and 9 assists while Giannis Antetokounmpo continued his dominance with 34 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 assists.
Cavaliers Erased an Early Deficit to Stay Perfect
The Bucks stormed out of the gates, with Lillard, seeking redemption after his forgettable performance against the Wolves, leading the charge with 4 straight three-pointers, pushing the lead to (21-11). Lillard had 18 points in the quarter alone. He then found Brook Lopez for another three, widening the gap to 16 points (17-33). But the Cavs responded right back with a trio of three-pointers to cut the distance to (26-33).
Cleveland, riding the momentum from their first-quarter surge, threatened to take over in the second. Lillard answered with another 3 to halt the run but the Cavs were already feeling it. Dean Wade’s three was the spark for a 15-2 blast, pushing the Cavs in front (58-53). However, Lillard countered with another three-pointer, snatching the lead back at (62-61).
The third was a nail-biter, with neither team willing to give an inch. The Cavaliers, however, managed to pull ahead late in the quarter with a 6-0 run. Merrill opened the final frame, scoring 5 quick points to extend the Cavaliers’ lead to (96-89). But the Bucks, desperate to avoid their fifth straight loss, responded with a fierce counterattack. Lillard rose to the occasion, sinking back-to-back threes to grab a 2-point lead. He followed it up with a clutch jumper, pulling them ahead (113-112) with 9.8 seconds left. But Mitchell had other plans.
Up Next
The two teams will square off again on Tuesday.
