The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their home dominance, improving to 15-1 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with a commanding 124-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 27 points, while Darius Garland added 16 as the Cavs made a statement against the Bucks, who were fresh off their NBA Cup triumph earlier in the week.
Evan Mobley chipped in 15 points, and Cleveland showcased its long-range shooting by draining 20 three-pointers. The Cavaliers, now boasting a league-best 24-4 record, overwhelmed a Milwaukee team missing All-Star guard Damian Lillard, sidelined with a strained calf. Without Lillard, the Bucks struggled offensively, especially in the backcourt. Starting guards Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green combined to shoot 0-for-9, leaving much of the scoring burden on Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo delivered an impressive performance with 33 points and 14 rebounds but couldn’t carry the Bucks alone. Still recovering from their Cup championship celebration on Tuesday, Milwaukee looked out of sync, and head coach Doc Rivers acknowledged the challenge of quickly transitioning back to regular-season play.Â
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers showcased their depth, with Max Strus making his season debut after recovering from an ankle injury. Strus contributed nine points in 19 minutes and played a pivotal role in a key sequence late in the third quarter.Â
After hitting a three-pointer, Caris LeVert added a layup before stealing an inbound pass, which led to Mitchell drilling a buzzer-beating three-pointer. The back-to-back plays gave Cleveland a commanding 27-point lead entering the fourth quarter and effectively sealed the game.
For the Cavaliers, the win solidifies their status as one of the league’s most formidable home teams, and we have a grade for every player who made the court.Â
Donovan Mitchell: A
Stats: 27 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 9-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 6-8 FT, +21, 27 MIN
Donovan Mitchell led the charge with a game-high 27 points, shooting an efficient 9-15 from the field and 3-7 from beyond the arc. Adding 6 assists and 2 steals, he showcased his ability to dominate both ends of the court, finishing with a +21 plus/minus in 27 minutes. Mitchell’s consistent scoring and leadership were instrumental in the Cavaliers’ commanding victory.
Darius Garland: B
Stats: 16 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB), 5 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 0 PF, 6-15 FG, 4-6 3PT, 0-0 FT, +16, 25 MIN
Darius Garland provided a solid supporting performance, tallying 16 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. He excelled from deep, hitting 4 of 6 three-pointers, but his 3 turnovers slightly detracted from his otherwise productive outing. Garland’s ability to space the floor and manage the offense helped maintain Cleveland’s momentum.
Dean Wade: B
Stats: 15 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 5-6 FG, 4-5 3PT, 1-1 FT, +19, 21 MIN
Dean Wade delivered a strong performance, scoring 15 points on 5-6 shooting, including an impressive 4-5 from three-point range. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 2 steals, showcasing his energy and efficiency off the bench. Wade’s two-way play was a key factor in Cleveland’s dominant showing.
Evan Mobley: B
Stats:Â 15 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB), 4 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 6-10 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-3 FT, +21, 27 MIN
Mobley was effective on both ends, recording 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 6-10 from the field. His +21 rating highlighted his impact, though his 3-point shooting (0-2) remains an area for improvement. Mobley’s presence in the paint and ability to facilitate added valuable versatility to Cleveland’s game plan.
Jarrett Allen: B
Stats: 10 PTS, 10 REB (1 OREB), 0 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 5-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +16, 25 MIN
Jarrett Allen posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, providing steady interior play. His shooting was flawless (5-5 FG), but he was less impactful defensively than usual, with no blocks. Allen’s consistency on the boards was a key part of Cleveland’s dominance inside.
Ty Jerome: B
Stats: 13 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB), 4 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 5-10 FG, 3-7 3PT, 0-0 FT, -1, 16 MIN
Jerome impressed off the bench, scoring 13 points while shooting 5-10 from the field and 3-7 from three-point range. He added 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, providing energy and playmaking in limited minutes. Despite a slight negative plus/minus (-1), Jerome’s contribution was valuable in maintaining the Cavs’ lead.
Caris LeVert: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 1 PF, 3-7 FG, 1-4 3PT, 0-0 FT, +18, 18 MIN
LeVert struggled with efficiency, scoring 7 points on 3-7 shooting, including 1-4 from deep. However, his 4 assists and defensive effort, reflected in a +18 rating, showed his ability to contribute in other areas. LeVert’s performance was solid but left room for greater offensive impact.
Max Strus: C+
Stats: 9 PTS, 0 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 3-8 FG, 3-8 3PT, 0-0 FT, +20, 19 MIN
In his season debut, Strus added 9 points on 3-8 shooting from three-point range. Though his stat line wasn’t eye-popping, his presence added depth to Cleveland’s rotation. His key three-pointer and hustle in the third quarter helped spark a game-sealing run.
Georges Niang: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 2-4 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +13, 17 MIN
Niang provided a modest 5 points on 2-4 shooting, including 1-2 from three-point range. He contributed 2 rebounds and a steal in 17 minutes, playing a steady, though unspectacular, role off the bench. While not a standout, Niang’s effort was consistent and reliable.
Sam Merrill: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 0 PF, 2-6 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, 0, 19 MIN
Merrill chipped in 5 points and 3 rebounds but struggled with shooting, going 2-6 from the field and 1-5 from deep. His two turnovers limited his effectiveness, but his effort on the boards helped the Cavs maintain control in a blowout win.
Tristan Thompson: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 2-2 FT, -10, 9 MIN
Thompson played just 9 minutes, scoring 2 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. While his offensive impact was minimal (0-3 FG), his presence on the boards was notable, particularly on the defensive end. Limited minutes capped his overall influence.
Craig Porter Jr.: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -8, 8 MIN
In 8 minutes, Porter Jr. tallied 1 rebound and 1 assist without attempting a shot. While his impact was minimal, he provided steady ball-handling in garbage time without committing a turnover.
Jaylon Tyson: N/A
Stats:Â 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -10, 9 MIN
Tyson had a tough outing, going scoreless in 9 minutes and committing 3 turnovers. His lone shot attempt, a three-pointer, missed the mark, and his -10 plus/minus reflected a challenging night in limited action.
