NBA Cup champion Bucks no match for Cavs
REUTERS – Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 124-101 home win over the Bucks on Friday, swiftly bringing Milwaukee down from its NBA Cup-championship high.
Five other Cavs scored in double-figures, with Darius Garland putting up 16 and Evan Mobley and Dean Wade adding 15 each. Ty Jerome had 13 points, and Jarrett Allen posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 33 points along with 14 rebounds. Fellow star Damian Lillard did not travel with the team due to a right calf strain. Khris Middleton scored 14 off the bench, and Brook Lopez contributed 10 points.
The Cavaliers have won three in a row and seven of their past eight. The Bucks had a three-game winning streak end, though the count doesn’t include their 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup final on Tuesday, as that game isn’t included in the regular-season standings.
Elsewhere, Jalen Williams scored a season-high 33 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 as visiting Oklahoma City Thunder withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat Miami Heat 104-97.
Joel Embiid scored 12 of his game-high 34 points in the fourth quarter to propel Philadelphia 76ers to a 108-98 home win over Charlotte Hornets.