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Cavs vs. Bucks score | Cavaliers beat the Bucks in Max Strus' season debut; recap
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- Cavs vs. Bucks score | Cavaliers beat the Bucks in Max Strus' season debut; recap
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers and their top-of-the-NBA offense took down the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, 124-101, with the Cavs welcoming back small forward Max Strus to game action.
The Cavs (24-4) entered Friday's game with the No. 1-ranked offense in terms field goal percentage at 50.4%, the only team in the league to be above 50. They're also second in points per game (121.5) and point differential (+10.6 per game). Only the Cavs and the Memphis Grizzlies are in the top five in all three categories.
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Fresh off an Emirates NBA Cup championship, the Bucks are 14-12 and in line for the No. 5 seed in the East.
Here's how the game unfolded through our live score updates.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a play during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavaliers beat the Bucks
The Cavs cruised past the Bucks to record win No. 24 this season in their first 28 games, 124-101.
Donovan Mitchell finished with 27 points. Darius Garland (16), Dean Wade (15) and Evan Mobley (15) were all key contributors as well. The Bucks simply could never slow down the Cavs' attack.
Strus finished 3-for-8 from 3-point range for nine points in his first game of the season.
Cavs, Bucks pull starters late in fourth quarter
This one is over. The Cavaliers and Bucks are both pulling their starters with a few minutes left. For the Cavs, rookie first-round pick Jaylon Tyson will get some minutes.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates with guard Caris LeVert (3) during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Caris LeVert , Donovan Mitchell lead Cavaliers to 27-point lead over Bucks entering fourth quarter
Caris LeVert might have just about ended this one early.
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With the Cavs leading by 22 already, Caris LeVert added a bucket with just over seven seconds left in the third quarter. LeVert then stole the in-bounds pass, and after a scurry on the floor for the ball, Donovan Mitchell buried a 3-pointer with one second left, putting the Cavs up 103-76 entering the fourth quarter.
Max Strus also has his first points of the season, now hitting 3 3s of his eight attempts.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has 33 points, but he's also received zero help with Dame Lillard still sidelined. Donovan Mitchell now has 24 with a quarter to go.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
What's the score of the Cavaliers-Bucks game? Cleveland opens up 25-point lead
The Bucks have simply not been able to handle the Cavs' spacing on offense tonight.
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Cleveland has continuously found open shots swinging the ball around the perimeter. The Bucks just haven't been able to cover every inch of floor needed.
Darius Garland has especially been wide open, he's now up to 16 points tonight, and the Cavs have opened up a 25-point lead, 81-56, with 7:30 left in the third quarter.
It's another night in which this Cavs' offense has overwhelmed their opponent. The spacing and tempo has been too much.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley slam home back-to-back dunks; Cavs lead Bucks by 18 at halftime
The high-flying Cavs are cruising past the Bucks.
In the final moments of the first half, Donovan Mitchell found Evan Mobley for an alley-oop dunk. A loose ball a few seconds later led to a Mitchell transition dunk, in which he was able to hang on the rim for a bit while looking at the Cavs bench, and Cleveland will take a 69-51 lead into halftime.
Mitchell has a team-high 16 points. Max Strus is still scoreless, having missed his three shot attempts tonight. Dean Wade (11 points), Darius Garland (10) and Mobley (10) are all into double-figures already.
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Outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and his game-high 18 points, the Bucks have struggled to keep up with the Cavs' league-best offense.
Cavs-Bucks score; Cleveland leads Milwaukee by double digits
Ty Jerome just checked into the game for the first time — a bit later than usual in Max Strus' first night back — and hit a 3, and the Cavs now lead the Bucks 43-30 with 7:42 left in the second quarter.
Donovan Mitchell has a game-high 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the floor.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade (32) during the first quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs lead Bucks 29-20 at the end of the first quarter after back-to-back replay reviews
The Cavs held a 29-20 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
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The final second of the opening quarter proved to be dramatic. With Cavs star guard Donovan Mitchell well beyond half court, he heaved the ball in desperation as Bucks forward Khris Middleton fouled him. The play went to replay review, and the officials determined there was 0.5 seconds left when Mitchell was fouled. He shot three free throws and made them to give the Cavs a 29-20 lead.
Then another replay review was conducted to determine whether Strus fouled Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. with time left on the clock. Strus jumped and landed on Trent, sending him to the floor, but the officials determined time had expired, so there was no foul.
Mitchell had a game-high eight points when the first quarter ended.
Dean Wade's 3 pointer gives Cavs 17-8 lead and prompts a Bucks timeout with 4:29 left in the first quarter
The Cavs went on a 9-2 run to seize a 17-8 lead with 4:29 left in the first quarter and compel the Bucks to call timeout.
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Forward Dean Wade made a 3-pointer on an assist from point guard Darius Garland to give the Cavs the nine-point cushion.
Cavs lead Bucks 8-6 with 7:17 left in the first quarter, and Max Strus checks into the game
The Cavs led 8-6 during a timeout with 7:17 left in the first quarter. Guard Donovan Mitchell scored three points and assisted on a 3-pointer by Wade to help the Cavs out of the gate.
Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo aided the Cavs a bit by missing a pair of foul shots with 8:11 left in the first quarter and another free throw with 7:17 remaining in the opening quarter.
Coming out of the timeout, Strus came off the bench and entered a game for the first time this regular season.
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Here is some pregame information :
What is the injury report for the Cavaliers-Bucks game? Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson says Max Strus is available to play
Strus has yet to make his 2024-25 regular-season debut because of a sprained right ankle and is listed as questionable for Friday night. However, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said during his pregame media availability Strus is available to face the Bucks.
Isaac Okoro , meanwhile, will be out for at least two weeks with a shoulder sprain .
The Bucks will be without star guard Damian Lillard, ruling him out with a right calf strain.
Strus won't start out of the gate, and he'll be on a minutes restriction. The Cavs announced they'll start point guard Darius Garland, shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, small forward Dean Wade, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen .
Cavaliers guard Max Strus poses for a photo during media day, Sept. 30, 2024, in Cleveland.
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How can I watch, listen, stream Cavs vs. Bucks game?
Friday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network and nationally on NBA TV. It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers score vs. Milwaukee Bucks highlights, recap
