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Cleveland Cavaliers tie best start to a season in team history with win vs Milwaukee Bucks
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- Cleveland Cavaliers tie best start to a season in team history with win vs Milwaukee Bucks
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers kept their perfect run to begin the 2024-25 season intact against the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse .
The Cavs , who have had arguably the NBA's best offense and are the only remaining undefeated team in the Eastern Conference, improved to 7-0 after beating the Bucks in Milwaukee Saturday night on Donovan Mitchell's game-winner in the final second .
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For an encore Monday night, the Cavs matched their best start to a season in franchise history by improving to 8-0 with a 116-114 win over the Bucks. The Cavs also went 8-0 in 1976-77.
Tipoff occurred at 7 p.m. Monday in downtown Cleveland. Here are how our live score updates, analysis and highlights unfolded as the Cavs took on the Bucks yet again.
Cavaliers beat the Bucks
The Cavs have beaten the Bucks to remain undefeated this season.
AJ Green actually made a half-court heave as time expired, but the Cavs beat Milwaukee 116-114.
Darius Garland finished with a game-high 39 points. Dame Lillard ended up with 36. It was a heck of a battle between those two, and Jarrett Allen was the difference in the final minute, hitting a key shot and coming away with a winning block.
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The Cavs are 8-0.
Jarrett Allen blocks Dame Lillard in final seconds
Jarrett Allen just finished this game off.
In the final seconds, Dame Lillard drove to the basket but a layup attempt was rejected by Jarrett Allen. That's a huge block, and it'll basically end this game. The Cavs lead 115-111 and have the ball with 6.3 seconds left.
The final two minutes tonight were all Darius Garland and Allen.
Darius Garland, Dame Lillard trading baskets; Cavs-Bucks in a thriller
After Lillard's 3 and then a turnover, Darius Garland buried a 3 of his own to give the Cavs a 113-110 lead. He has 39 points tonight.
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With 12.2 seconds left, Jarrett Allen put one off the glass and in to make it a 115-111 Cavs lead. After nearly an entire half of misses, Darius Garland almost single-handedly led the Cavs back.
Dame Lillard hits 3 to give Bucks the lead
Dame Lillard is just ice cold in crunch time. Lillard hit a step-back 3 from the corner to give the Bucks a 111-108 lead.
Darius Garland followed with a layup to give him 36 points, making it a one-point score, before a huge backcourt violation call on Lillard gave the Cavs the ball again.
Darius Garland gives Cavs the lead with layup; Cavaliers-Bucks score
Darius Garland has had his best game of the season.
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After a transition layup to tie it, Garland just navigated through traffic and got a bucket to fall in the paint, and the Cavs have regained the lead, 108-106, with 2:19 to go.
This game's intensity picked up quickly.
Evan Mobley somehow gets 2-and-1 over Brook Lopez to fall; Cavs tie Bucks late in fourth quarter
Evan Mobley just pulled off a ridiculous 2-and-1, drawing the fall from Brook Lopez and also getting the basket to fall. Mobley then made the free throw to make it a 106-104 score. Mobley has had some highlight-reel plays tonight.
At the other end, a turnover led to a fast break, and a shifty Darius Garland layup has tied it 106-106.
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Bucks lead Cavs midway through fourth quarter
The Cavs can't buy a bucket.
Milwaukee leads 106-101, even briefly pulling away with Lillard off the floor.
Darius Garland has hit the 30-point mark to keep the Cavs within shouting distance.
Nov 4, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) looks to pass against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Georges Niang (20) during the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Bucks take the lead over Cavs entering fourth quarter
The Bucks have overtaken the Cavs. Pat Connoughton put in an easy layup in the closing seconds, the Bucks have the lead, 91-89, entering the fourth quarter.
After a dynamite first half, the Cavs totaled only 16 points in an ice-cold third quarter, and it was just enough for Milwaukee to catch back up.
Cavs, Bucks score: Milwaukee comes back to tie Cleveland late in third quarter
Dame Lillard is a one-man wrecking crew right now.
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Lillard is up to 31 points and seven assists, and as the Cavs raced to cover him, he found an open Brook Lopez for a 3 that tied it 86-86.
It's now 89-89 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. The Bucks have mounted a double-digit comeback, and it's a new game now.
Nov 4, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavaliers-Bucks score: Milwaukee races back, cuts into Cleveland lead
The Bucks are making this one a game even without their star.
Nearing the midway point of the third quarter, the Bucks cut the Cavs lead to 81-76 before Georges Niang hit a key 3 from the corner to halt the momentum a bit.
Dame Lillard has a team-high 26 points, only bested by Darius Garland's 27. The Cavs offense has missed a few beats in this third quarter.
Nov 4, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots over the defense of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs-Bucks score: Cleveland pours in 73 points in first half to lead Milwaukee
The Cavs offense is firing on all cylinders.
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Darius Garland has a game-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the floor, along with five assists. Evan Mobley has 14 points and three rebounds. Donovan Mitchell has 13 points. Jarrett Allen (six rebounds) and Sam Merrill both have 10 points.
For the Bucks, Dame Lillard has a team-high 17 points on 4-for-8 shooting.
The Cavs lead 73-60 at halftime.
Darius Garland has 20-point first half; Cavs, Bucks score update
Darius Garland nailed a 3-pointer with under three minutes to go, which gives him 22 points in this half along with five assists. It's been an exceptional half for him, and the Cavs lead the Bucks 71-53 late in the half.
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Donovan Mitchell dominated the first quarter, Evan Mobley took over in the second quarter and Darius Garland is now carrying the Cavs offense late in the first half.
Cavaliers-Bucks score: Evan Mobley has block, huge dunk in second quarter
Evan Mobley has taken over the second quarter.
Mobley put together a nice inside move, which led to a dunk. The next time down the floor, he got a layup to fall. At the other end, he blocked a shot, ran down the floor and then threw down a thunderous dunk.
And to cap it all off, Mobley shortly thereafter buried a 3-pointer from the elbow. He's got 14 points already, and the Cavs have pushed their lead out to 45-36.
Nov 4, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs lead Bucks 35-31 at the end of the first quarter
The Bucks took their first lead of the game when Andre Jackson Jr. made a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left in the first quarter.
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However, the Cavs quickly countered. Donovan Mitchell made a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining, and fellow guard Ty Jerome recorded a steal off Damian Lillard and a layup to give the Cavs a 35-31 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Mitchell led the Cavs with 13 points through one quarter.
Bucks' 3-pointer barrage reduces Cavs' lead to 28-24 with 2:09 left in the first quarter
The Bucks trailed by 12 points after Cavs point guard Darius Garland used a nifty drive, pump fake and pivot for a layup against Andre Jackson Jr.
However, the Bucks fired back with 3-pointers on four consecutive possessions to cut the Cavs' lead to 28-24 with 2:09 remaining in the first quarter. Pat Connaughton and Lillard each made a 3-pointer, and AJ Green made two during the sequence.
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Cavs jump out to 16-8 lead vs. Bucks
Mitchell and Garland each started the game 2-of-3 from 3-point range. Mitchell had eight points and Garland six to help the Cavs jump out to a 16-8 lead with 7:59 left in the opening quarter.
With a tick under eight minutes left in the first quarter, forward Evan Mobley made a layup but then missed a free throw as the Cavs led by eight points.
Below is some pregame information.
Nov 2, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives then pulls up for a shot against Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) with .3 second left on the clock against the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Final Cleveland Cavaliers 114, Milwaukee Bucks 113. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out Monday night vs. Cavs
Bucks eight-time All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (strained right adductor) won't face the Cavs on Monday night, Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers told reporters during his pregame media availability.
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Max Strus injury; Cavs injury report
Max Strus is set to miss at least six weeks with an ankle injury . Dean Wade has been in the starting lineup in Strus' place at small forward. However, Wade (illness) and guard Caris LeVert (right knee soreness) have been ruled out for Monday night's game. With Strus and Wade sidelined, Isaac Okoro started at small forward.
The Cavaliers bench has been outstanding , particularly LeVert, and a huge reason behind Cleveland's red-hot start.
How can I watch/stream/listen to Cavs-Bucks game?
Monday night's game can be watched on the FanDuel Sports Network and NBA TV. It's being broadcast over the radio on WMMS 100.7 and WTAM 1100.
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Bronny James returns to Northeast Ohio, talks about school days, Swensons
LeBron 's son and Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny made his return to Northeast Ohio on Oct. 30 against the Cavs. Ahead of Cleveland's win over LA, Bronny reminisced about his days at Old Trail School and even weighed in on his go-to Swensons order.
Bronny's return: 'Real special': Bronny James eager for dual homecoming with LeBron James in Lakers vs Cavs
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs tie franchise record for best start to a season with win vs Bucks
