The Cavaliers turned a one-point first-quarter deficit into a 25-point road win with a second-quarter scoring surge.
Cleveland flipped a 25-24 first-quarter deficit by outscoring Milwaukee 48-21 in the second to take a 72-46 halftime lead. The Cavaliers added 37 points in the third, then absorbed Milwaukee’s 35-27 fourth quarter to secure a 136-111 win. Evan Mobley led Cleveland with 27 points on 11-for-16 shooting, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, no blocks and no turnovers. Jarrett Allen added 25 points on 12-for-16 shooting, 11 rebounds, four assists, one steal, no blocks and two turnovers. Donovan Mitchell scored 15 on 5-for-7 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, no steals, no blocks and two turnovers, while James Harden had 13 on 4-for-8 shooting, six rebounds, seven assists, one steal, no blocks and two turnovers. Milwaukee’s Kel’el Ware finished with 19 points on 6-for-16 shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks and four turnovers; Tyler Herro had 15 on 5-for-18 shooting, three rebounds, two assists, one steal, no blocks and two turnovers. Cleveland’s second-quarter burst created the decisive separation, and the Cavaliers carried that cushion through the finish.
Key Performers
Evan Mobley (Cleveland): 27 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST; 11/16 FG, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO Jarrett Allen (Cleveland): 25 PTS, 11 REB, 4 AST; 12/16 FG, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO Kel’el Ware (Milwaukee): 19 PTS, 10 REB, 2 AST; 6/16 FG, 1 STL, 2 BLK, 4 TO
Standings Impact
Cleveland moves from 3-2 to 4-2; Milwaukee drops from 1-4 to 1-5. The Cavaliers entered ranked 13th in the power index, while the Bucks were 26th.
DYMA Insight
The game’s defining stretch was Cleveland’s 48-21 second quarter, which turned a one-point deficit into a 26-point halftime lead. Milwaukee outscored the Cavaliers in the fourth, but the gap created before the break proved too large.