NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers at Milwaukee Bucks

· National Basketball Association
7-0, 4-0 Away
Final
114 - 113

1-5, 0-2 Home

Mitchell's last-second jumper helps Cavs stay unbeaten with 114-113 win at Milwaukee

Giannis, Dame combine for 75 as Bucks fall to 1-5

The 7-0 Cavaliers are one win away from matching their best start in franchise history. They won their first eight games in 1976-77.

Milwaukee has lost five straight since winning its opener. The Bucks wasted a brilliant performance from Damian Lillard, who had 41 points with nine assists and shot 10 of 15 from 3-point range.

Lillard had put Milwaukee ahead by hitting a step-back jumper with 9.8 seconds remaining.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists for the Bucks.

The Bucks played without Khris Middleton, who hasn't yet made his season debut as he recovers from surgery on his ankles.

Takeaways Cavaliers: Cleveland showed its gumption by winning at less than full strength one night after Orlando Magic 120-109 at home. Cleveland was missing Caris LeVert due to a sore right knee.

Bucks: After shooting a combined 17 of 73 on 3-point attempts in losses at Boston and Memphis, the Bucks were 18 of 39 from beyond the arc Saturday. Their hot start from long range helped them build a 16-point first-quarter lead. In the end, Lillard and Antetokounmpo didn't get enough help. The Bucks need more from Gary Trent Jr., who scored three points in 34 minutes.

Key moment After Lillard put Milwaukee ahead, Cleveland called timeout. Evan Mobley inbounded a pass to Mitchell, who caught it while barely avoiding a backcourt violation. Mitchell briefly lost control of the ball, but regained possession in 3-point range, dribbled inside the arc and hit a 19-footer.

Key stat Lillard's 10 3-pointers were his most since joining the Bucks last season. His 41 points were two off his best total as a Buck.

Up next The teams meet again Monday in Cleveland.

Regular Season Series

CLE leads series 1-0

Matchup Prediction

Bucks: 38.1%
Cavaliers: 61.9%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Recent Plays

4th 0.0 End of Game 114 - 113
4th 0.0 End of the 4th Quarter 114 - 113
4th 0.0 Bucks offensive team rebound 114 - 113
4th 0.0 Damian Lillard misses 31-foot three point jumper 114 - 113
4th 0.1 Bobby Portis enters the game for Gary Trent Jr. 114 - 113

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/cle.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCLE https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nba/500/mil.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originMIL
44-91 FG 43-89
48.4 Field Goal % 48.3
15-38 3PT 18-39
39.5 Three Point % 46.2
11-15 FT 9-15
73.3 Free Throw % 60.0
45 Rebounds 45
10 Offensive Rebounds 10
35 Defensive Rebounds 35
31 Assists 24
3 Steals 3
2 Blocks 3
7 Turnovers 13
0 Team Turnovers 0
7 Total Turnovers 13
0 Technical Fouls 0
0 Total Technical Fouls 0
0 Flagrant Fouls 0
12 Points Conceded Off Turnovers 15
13 Fast Break Points 12
50 Points in Paint 44
20 Fouls 23
7 Largest Lead 16

Game Information

Fiserv Forum

Location: Milwaukee, WI
Attendance: 17,341 · Capacity:

2024-25 Central Standings

TEAM W L PCT GB STRK
Cleveland 26 4 .867 - W5
Milwaukee 16 12 .571 9 W2
Indiana 15 15 .500 11 W5
Chicago 13 17 .433 13 L2
Detroit 13 17 .433 13 W2
Full Standings

NBA News

Stat Stories: Monday's standout NBA fantasy performances

Stat Stories: Monday's standout NBA fantasy performances

Check out some of the top performers in fantasy NBA from Monday, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama.

NBA Christmas Day matchups that lived up to the hype

NBA Christmas Day matchups that lived up to the hype

The NBA on Christmas Day is one of the league's oldest traditions with the game's biggest stars often clashing on the holiday.

Breakout seasons for NBA players under age 25: Nine most improved

Breakout seasons for NBA players under age 25: Nine most improved

The 2021 No. 1 pick finally figuring it out? A bright spot on the middling Hawks? The stats behind the improvement of these under-25 NBA players stand out.

NBA betting: One bet to make on each of the awards races

NBA betting: One bet to make on each of the awards races

Andre Snellings and Eric Moody pinpoint one bet to make on each of the NBA awards. races.

NBA on Christmas Day: Key questions, top players, big matchups

NBA on Christmas Day: Key questions, top players, big matchups

LeBron vs. Steph and Wemby's Christmas Day debut -- our NBA insiders preview the five-game holiday slate by answering team's biggest questions.