Two of the best teams at the Eastern Conference will meet for the last time this season when Milwauke Bucks hosts Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday evening.
It’s the second night of a weekend back-to-back at home for Milwaukee, who fell to Orlando Magic 111-109 on Saturday night. The loss snapped Buck’s winning line with four games.
Orlando led by as many as 17 in the second half and discouraged Milwauke’s comeback attempt for the fourth quarter. Buck’s coach Doc Rivers said he did not like the lack of ball movement that has sometimes plagued his crime this season.
“We didn’t touch the ball much,” he said. “We danced with the ball. … When we do, we’re not so good. We gave up too much of their physics. I thought they were so much more physical tonight.”
Cleveland is on another mammoth driving and wins his 13th match in a row on Friday night, 118-117 on comeback fashion against Hornets in Charlotte.
Overall, Cavaliers has won 17 of his last 18 matches and are two wins away from tying the 15-game winning line that began their season.
Cavaliers was down by nine points during the fourth quarter on Friday but ended at 23-13 driving. Donovan Mitchell led the road with 24 points, and the team made 43 free throwing and shot 43 out of 51 (84.3 percent).
“I mean, we won. But it was … We won,” Mitchell said. “We win games, but I will always stick to a high standard, myself included. Rough start and rough finish. We should not have been in that position: mistakes, turnover, defensive mishaps, rebounds.”
Mitchell leads Cleveland with an average of 24.4 points per match, Darius Garland is on average 6.7 assists, and Jarrett Allen is the best rebounder with an average of 10.3.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee, an average of 30.9 points and 12.1 returns per match. Damian Lillard is an average of 7.2 assists.
On the damage, Cleveland’s report is clear. Milwaukee was without Pat Connaughton (calf), Gary Trent Jr. (knee) and Ryan Rollins (personal reasons) on Saturday. Antetokounmpo (calf) was hesitant to go into the game and Lillard (eye) was likely, but both played.
Cleveland has beaten Milwaukee in all three meetings this season. Cavaliers swept a home-and-home series on November 2 and 4, 114-113 and 116-114, respectively, won 124-101 in Cleveland on December 20.
In the latest matchup, Mitchell Packed Packed Sex Cleveland Scorers in double numbers with 27 points and six assists. Without Lillard on the floor, Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 33 points and 14 returns.
Cavaliers is a top team in the league in most categories on the state sheet, but especially on the offensive side.
Cleveland leads the NBA in offensive rating (122.1), points per match (123.1) and 3-point percentage (39.2 percent). They are second in the total net state (11.0) to Oklahoma City Thunder (12.6).
Milwaukee is just behind them in 3-point percent (38.3 percent). Cleveland also has a higher defensive rating (111.1) than Bucks (111.8).
Cavaliers are about to win the NBA’s central division. They have a lead of 16 1/2 games over Milwaukee, which has won Central for the past six seasons.
-Field level media
