The Cleveland Cavaliers will travel to Milwaukee to challenge the Bucks on Wednesday, one night after each team recorded an important victory.
Cleveland picked up a convincing 109-94 win over the visiting New York Knicks on Tuesday. The result got the Cavaliers back into the win column after their seven-game winning streak ended on Sunday in Oklahoma City.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 23 points on just 5-of-18 shooting from the field. New teammate James Harden added 20 points, while Jarrett Allen had 19 points and 10 rebounds.
The team could be without its starting backcourt, however. Both Mitchell (23 points) and Harden (20) played more than 30 minutes on Tuesday but are ailing now.
Mitchell will not play, with the team ruling him out on Wednesday due to a strained right groin. Harden is questionable after breaking his right thumb at the fingertip in the game against the Knicks.
The statement issued by the Cavaliers on Wednesday said Harden would undergo treatment and be evaluated further before playing. It does not appear he will miss much, if any, time.
That must be a relief to Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson.
“Bringing James on has given us a renewed confidence,” Atkinson said. “We understand we’re a better team. That spirit, that confidence, it makes you play harder and compete harder. We were missing that edge, that belief.”
Mitchell has been an All-NBA level talent this season, averaging 28.6 points, 5.9 assists and 1.5 steals to lead Cleveland. Harden has seemed to fit right in, averaging 4.6 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 18.9 points per game over his first seven appearances with the Cavaliers.
The guards have contributed to a team effort on the glass, too.
“Rebounding was a glaring issue in the first two games (against New York),” Allen said. “And every coach made a point of emphasis that 1 through 5 needed to help with the rebounding, especially against Mitchell Robinson. Everybody knows he’s one of the best rebounders in the league. And everybody did it. Sam (Merrill) came back and helped me; Jaylon (Tyson) was excellent. It was a 1 through 5 effort tonight.”
Milwaukee, which remains without two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf injury), similarly bounced back from a Sunday loss with a strong 128-117 win on Tuesday against the Miami Heat.
It was the Bucks’ seventh win in their last nine games, all without Antetokounmpo, who remains without an official timetable for return.
“This was a big response for us. This is what we haven’t done this year, get a nice stretch of games going and then the next game we kind of give in,” Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers said. “There was stretches where we could have gave in and didn’t.”
Kevin Porter Jr. took on the scoring load Tuesday, leading the way with 32 points and seven assists. Ryan Rollins and Bobby Portis each scored 21 points while Kyle Kuzma added 19.
“He knows when to attack now,” Rivers said of Kuzma. “He knows when to go downhill and make plays. Our shooting allowed Ryan (Rollins) and (Porter) to get downhill.”
On the injury front, Max Strus (foot) still is out for Cleveland and has not been cleared for contact. The Bucks saw the return of Myles Turner (calf), although he played just 19 minutes on Tuesday and scored two points.
Cleveland has dominated the series against its division rival lately. The Cavaliers swept the four-game set in 2024-25 and has taken the two contests this season by scores of 118-113 and 118-106.
Antetokounmpo played just 13 minutes against the Cavaliers on Nov. 17, as he suffered a calf strain and did not return. Mitchell led Cleveland with a game-high 37 points.
The numbers favor the offenses in this matchup. Cleveland boasts the third-highest-scoring attack (119.5 ppg) in the NBA, while Milwaukee has the second-highest 3-point percentage (39.1%).
–Field Level Media
