The Cavaliers moved to 4-2 and fourth in the East with a 136-111 win at Milwaukee, built on a 48-point burst before halftime. The starters did the damage, and the final margin finished 11 points under the 36-point peak.
How did Cleveland bury Milwaukee so fast?
The game was 24-25 after one period. Then Cleveland scored 48 to Milwaukee's 21. A 12-0 burst turned 27-31 into 39-31, and a 15-0 stretch took 54-45 to 69-45. The Bucks burned three timeouts in that period and still trailed 72-46 at the break. The lead peaked at 36.
Who earned the grades?
Jarrett Allen gets an A: 25 points, 11 rebounds, 12-of-16 shooting and a +24 in 24 minutes. Evan Mobley gets an A for 27 points on 11-of-16, including 3-of-5 from deep. Donovan Mitchell scored only 15, but 5-of-7 shooting and a team-best +31 in 25 minutes earn an A-. James Harden's 13 points, 7 assists and +17 are a B+.
Why did Milwaukee get within 25?
Reserves closed it out. Craig Porter Jr., Riley Minix, Thomas Bryant, Tristan Enaruna and Tyrese Proctor were on the floor for the last five minutes, and the Bucks won the fourth 35-27 with 9-0 and 12-0 bursts. Bryant scored 11 but was a team-worst minus-9 in 11 minutes. Porter was a zero in 16 minutes. That is garbage time, not a crisis.
Does beating a 1-5 team move the race?
It helps, but keep the scale in view. Cleveland is 4-2 and fourth, level with sixth-place Washington at 3-3 in the standings math and two games ahead of 11th. The Bucks have a minus-10.6 net rating through five games. The 55-27 pace is six games old. Nobody should hang a banner on it.
What comes next after this?
Oklahoma City twice in three days: home on Nov. 2, then on the road Nov. 4. Cleveland has two days between games. Jaylon Tyson is day-to-day with the ankle, listed to return Nov. 2. By our count, Mobley is 21 threes short of 250 career, about nine games away at his current pace.
What was the score of the Cavaliers-Bucks game?
Cleveland won 136-111 at Milwaukee on Oct. 31, leading by as many as 36 points. The Cavaliers are 4-2 and fourth in the East.
Who played best for the Cavaliers at Milwaukee?
Evan Mobley scored 27 and Jarrett Allen had 25 points and 11 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell had the best plus-minus, +31 in 25 minutes.
