CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers extended their winning streak to six games and earned some payback Wednesday night with a 135-95 blowout victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The Cavs are in the midst of their longest winning streak this season, and they have gone 11-3 since announcing Dec. 15 starting point guard Darius Garland (jaw surgery) and starting forward Evan Mobley (knee surgery) would miss significant time.
One of those three defeats occurred on Dec. 29, when the Cavs fell 119-111 to the visiting Bucks.
Bucks stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard scored 34 and 31 points, respectively.
However, the Bucks ruled out Antetokounmpo for the rematch due to a right shoulder contusion. Lillard had 17 points.
In the first Cavs-Bucks meeting this season, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 34 points. Center Jarrett Allen posted a career-high 30 points to go along with 12 rebounds.
Mitchell entered Wednesday’s game 30 points away from reaching 11,000 regular-season points in his career and reached the milestone in the third quarter. He finished with 31 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Allen continued his hot streak with a 10th consecutive double-double, the best statistical stretch of his career. He had 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The Cavs (24-15) snapped what had been a three-game winning streak for the Bucks (28-13).
Below is some information about the fourth quarter.
Cavs backup forward Georges Niang sets new career high in scoring
Like an NBA Jam player, Georges Niang had a scorching shooting performance. The reserve forward made a 3-pointer with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter to give the Cavs a 116-69 lead. The 47-point advantage was their largest of the game.
With 7:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, Niang made a finger-roll layup, prompting teammate Tristan Thompson to jog along the sideline while mimicking the shot.
Niang reached a career-high 33 points. His previous single-game best was 24 points, which he produced three times.
Below is some information about the third quarter.
Cavs repeatedly boost lead over Bucks to 42 points in the third quarter
A layup by Mitchell with 3:23 left in the third quarter and three successful free throws by Caris LeVert with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter put the Cavs ahead by 42 points on two separate occasions.
With 8:46 left in the third quarter, the Bucks called timeout. Cavs forward Dean Wade had just made a 3-pointer to extend Cleveland’s lead to 80-48.
Earlier in the second half, center Jarrett Allen couldn’t help but smile after he essentially used a volleyball move to tap the ball into the basket on an alley-oop pass from Isaac Okoro. Allen was also fouled. The three-point play with 10:22 left in the third quarter perfectly illustrated how much fun the Cavs appeared to be having in a lopsided game.
Below is some information about the first half.
Cavs lead Bucks 66-41 at halftime
Thanks to Georges Niang turning this game into his own shooting practice, the Cavs have maintained their sizable lead over the Bucks, 66-41, at halftime.
Niang has a game high 20 points, while Mitchell has 19. Niang has a chance to obliterate his career high of 24 tonight.
Georges Niang is perfect from the floor, now with a career high 20 as Cavs take 57-41 lead over Bucks
Georges Niang can’t miss right now.
He’s 8-for-8 from the floor, including 4-for-4 from 3-point range, and now has hit the 20-point mark for the first time this season. His career high in a single game is 24.
The Cavs are up 57-41, as they’ve again found their stride after the Bucks chipped away at their lead.
Georges Niang has season high 17 points against Bucks
Georges Niang is on fire.
Not even to the midway point in the second quarter, Niang just hit another 3 and now has a game-high and season-high 17 points.
Sam Merrill followed with a 3 of his own, pushing the Cavs’ lead to 52-30.
Georges Niang has 14 points, Cavs open lead 46-25
Georges Niang, somewhat surprisingly, has taken over. Niang had four points at the end of the quarter and has nine in the first few moments of the second quarter, coming off of a nifty layup and then a 3 from the corner. The Cavs have extended their lead out to 46-25.
With 7:59 left in the second quarter, Niang is two points off his season high of 16.
Cavs lead Bucks 32-22 after first quarter
The Cavs fell into an offensive lull of their own to end the quarter, but a couple of Georges Niang buckets in the final minute maintained their double-digit lead heading into the second quarter.
Mitchell leads the way with a game-high 14 points. For the Bucks, Dame Lillard has seven.
Donovan Mitchell is doubling the Bucks’ point total on his own, Cavs up 26-7
Donovan Mitchel currently has a touchdown lead over the Bucks, 14 (on his own) to seven. Overall, the Cavs lead 26-7. The Bucks are shooting just 20 percent from the floor.
Cavs jump out to 20-2 lead over Bucks, Donovan Mitchell with 12
Donovan Mitchell is putting on a show in front of the national TV audience. Mitchell has 12 of the Cavs’ 20, as they’ve jumped out to a double-digit lead — and then some. He’s drilled two 3s, along with another long jumper that was hit after some fancy dribbling to create his own shot.
Jarrett Allen has six points and four rebounds before the midway point of the first quarter.
The Bucks, meanwhile, have been ice cold from the floor.
Below is some pregame information.
What is the injury report for Cavs vs. Bucks?
The Cavs have ruled out Garland, Mobley and backup point guard Ty Jerome (ankle). They listed sixth man Caris LeVert (wrist) as questionable to play, but LeVert is active.
Aside from Antetokounmpo, no Bucks players are listed with injuries.
Pete Nance receives promotion from Cavs:Revere High School graduate to sign 10-day contract with his hometown NBA team
Akron native Chris Livingston plays for the Milwaukee Bucks
In June, Akron native Chris Livingston was drafted by the Bucks in the second round (58th overall) out of the University of Kentucky.
The rookie forward has appeared in 12 games with the Bucks, averaging 1.5 points and one rebound in 4.5 minutes. He did not play when the Bucks visited the Cavs last month. However, he entered the rematch with 6:48 left in the third quarter and the Bucks trailing by 33 points. Livingston logged nine minutes but didn’t score.
Three Bucks players, Robin Lopez (2022-23), Cameron Payne (2018-19) and Jae Crowder (2017-18), used to play for the Cavs.
What is the history between the Cavaliers and Bucks?
The Cavs are 99-131 in their all-time series against the Bucks.
Cleveland is 62-54 at home but 37-77 on the road.
The two teams split last season, winning two games apiece.
Cavaliers champion has something left:Tristan Thompson ‘not surprised at all’ he’s succeeding in Cleveland again
How can I watch, stream or listen to Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks?
The game will be televised on ESPN and locally on Bally Sports Ohio. It will be broadcast on the radio via WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WNZN (89.1-FM).
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
