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In a thrilling Monday night showdown, Darius Garland led the Cleveland Cavaliers to victory with an impressive 39 points, while Evan Mobley contributed a solid 17 points. The Cavaliers solidified their unbeaten status, moving to 8-0 with a narrow 116-114 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks played without their key player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, due to injury. This unbeaten run matched the Cavaliers’ previous record in 1976.
Dramatic Finish Seals Cavs’ Win
With a mere 45 seconds left on the clock, Garland sunk a decisive 3-pointer, shifting the momentum in Cleveland’s favor. The Cavaliers then rallied to outscore the Bucks 18-8 in the final 6:06. Providing vital backup, Jarrett Allen supplied 14 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, and executed a critical block on Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard in the final moments. Despite Lillard’s impressive 36-point performance, a costly over-and-back violation with 56 seconds left dampened his efforts.
Notable Performances and Key Moments
In addition to Lillard, Bobby Portis had a noteworthy game for Milwaukee, delivering 21 points and 18 rebounds. However, the Bucks, now on a six-game losing streak, felt the absence of Antetokounmpo, who averages 31 points. This was the Cavaliers’ second consecutive win against Milwaukee within a three-day span, and the previous game was decided by a last-second jumper from Donovan Mitchell.
A standout moment for the Cavaliers came from Mobley in the second quarter. Displaying his range of skills, the 7-footer blocked a layup, secured the rebound, and dribbled the length of the court to dunk, sparking a 10-2 run.
Remarkable Team Effort
The Cavaliers’ strong start to the season has been a team effort, with no player averaging over 30 minutes per game. This makes them only the second team in NBA history to start 7-0 under these conditions, following the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978.
Looking Ahead
The Milwaukee Bucks are set to host the Utah Jazz on Thursday, while the Cavaliers will face off against New Orleans on Wednesday. The Cavaliers will look to preserve their unbeaten streak, while the Bucks aim to break their losing run.
