CLEVELAND — Darius Garland delivered a stellar performance with 39 points, while Evan Mobley contributed 17, as the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a narrow 116-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. This win improved the Cavaliers’ record to an impressive 8-0, a feat they last achieved in 1976.
Garland’s pivotal moment came when he hit a crucial three-pointer with just 45 seconds remaining, helping the Cavs overcome a late deficit by outscoring the Bucks 18-8 in the final 6:06 of the game. Jarrett Allen also played a key role, finishing the night with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and he made a critical block against Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard in the dying moments of the game.
Lillard was a standout performer for the Bucks, scoring 36 points, but he made a critical error with a turnover after being called for an over-and-back violation with 56 seconds left. Bobby Portis added 21 points and 18 rebounds for Milwaukee, which is struggling with a six-game losing streak.
This matchup was the second win for the Cavaliers over the Bucks in just three days. In their previous encounter on Saturday, Donovan Mitchell had clinched a victory with a jumper right before the buzzer, winning 114-113.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined for Milwaukee due to a strained adductor muscle, which he sustained in the earlier loss to the Cavaliers. His absence left a significant impact given that he averages 31 points per game.
Looking at the positives, the Bucks displayed resilience in their performance despite the challenges posed by Antetokounmpo’s injury and a tough road schedule, where five of their last seven games have been away from home. As for the Cavaliers, the game served as a valuable lesson in maintaining focus against any opponent, especially given that Mitchell, who had been pivotal earlier in the season, managed only one point after the first quarter, finishing with a total of 14.
A key highlight during the game was Mobley’s impressive display of skills in a remarkable seven-second stretch during the second quarter. He made a spectacular block under the rim, secured the rebound, raced down the court, and finished with a dunk, which helped spark a 10-2 scoring run for the Cavaliers.
On a historic note, with their strong start, the Cavaliers are only the second team to begin a season with a record of 7-0 while having every player averaging less than 30 minutes on the floor. The only other team to do so was Seattle in 1978.
In their upcoming schedule, the Bucks will host the Utah Jazz on Thursday, while the Cavaliers are set to travel to New Orleans on Wednesday.