Rating Cavaliers Players vs. Bucks: Balanced Attack Leads To 14th Straight Win

The Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 14 games with a 112-100 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night, showcasing their depth and three-point shooting prowess. Max Strus led a balanced scoring attack with 17 points as eight Cavaliers scored at least nine points. Cleveland became just the second team in NBA history to win 14 straight while scoring at least 110 points in each game, a feat last accomplished by the 1986 Boston Celtics. 

The Cavs pulled away with a 13-0 run midway through the fourth quarter, sparked by a Donovan Mitchell three-pointer that answered Kyle Kuzma’s triple. Mitchell finished with 15 points, while Darius Garland and Evan Mobley each added 13. Cleveland’s dominance from beyond the arc proved decisive, outscoring Milwaukee 57-27 from deep by hitting 19 of 47 attempts. 

The Bucks, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, got 30 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who moved into 50th place on the NBA’s career scoring list, and 22 points from Damian Lillard, but they fell to 0-9 against the top three teams in the East. Let’s provide a rating for every Cavs player after an impressive Sunday night showing.

Max Strus: B

Stats: 17 PTS, 9 REB (4 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 2 PF, 6-11 FG, 5-9 3PT, 0-0 FT, +17, 22 MIN

Strus delivered a strong performance, leading the Cavaliers with 17 points and showing off his three-point shooting by hitting 5-of-9 from deep. His presence on the boards was equally impressive, as he pulled down nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end. Strus’s ability to space the floor and knock down timely shots was crucial in stretching Milwaukee’s defense, and his +17 plus-minus was a testament to his overall impact in just 22 minutes.

Evan Mobley: B-

Stats: 13 PTS, 7 REB (2 OREB, 5 DREB), 2 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 1 PF, 5-10 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, +3, 28 MIN

Mobley was steady, if unspectacular, contributing 13 points and seven rebounds while also playing a key role defensively with three steals and a block. He was efficient inside (5-of-10 shooting) and even hit two of his four three-point attempts, showing flashes of an evolving perimeter game. However, his three turnovers and occasional lapses in focus prevented him from having a larger impact.

Jarrett Allen: B-

Stats: 11 PTS, 6 REB (2 OREB, 4 DREB), 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 5-6 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, +9, 30 MIN

Allen’s efficiency was a highlight, as he scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and chipped in six rebounds. His defensive presence was notable, with three steals and a block, helping to anchor the paint against a Bucks team featuring Giannis. While Allen’s scoring was limited, his ability to clean up around the rim and deter drives was essential to Cleveland’s game plan.

Donovan Mitchell: C+

Stats: 15 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 0 PF, 4-15 FG, 1-7 3PT, 6-7 FT, +2, 30 MIN

Mitchell’s night was a mixed bag. While he scored 15 points and dished out six assists, his shooting was a struggle, finishing just 4-of-15 from the field and 1-of-7 from three. He did a solid job of getting to the line (6-of-7 on free throws) and provided a key three-pointer to halt a Bucks run in the fourth quarter. However, his four turnovers and poor shooting efficiency made this one of his quieter performances during the Cavs’ winning streak.

Darius Garland: C+

Stats: 13 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 5 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 2 PF, 4-13 FG, 1-8 3PT, 4-4 FT, +11, 29 MIN

Garland’s playmaking was solid, with five assists, but his shot was off the mark as he went 4-of-13 from the floor and just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc. Despite the shooting woes, he made all four of his free throws and contributed five rebounds. Garland’s ability to control the pace helped steady the offense, but his inefficiency kept him from making a larger scoring impact.

Dean Wade: C+

Stats: 9 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-3 FG, 3-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, +23, 15 MIN

Wade made the most of his limited minutes, providing a perfect shooting night with nine points on 3-of-3 from deep. His +23 plus-minus was the highest on the team, underscoring his value as a floor spacer and defender. While his contributions didn’t fill the box score, Wade’s timely shooting and defensive awareness made him an underrated part of the Cavs’ win.

Ty Jerome: C+

Stats: 9 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 3 PF, 3-9 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-2 FT, +7, 18 MIN

Jerome’s performance was a bit up and down, as he scored nine points but needed nine shots to get there. His ability to hit a three-pointer and convert both free-throw attempts was a plus, and he played mistake-free basketball with no turnovers. While his shot selection was occasionally questionable, Jerome’s +7 plus-minus showed he provided some positive minutes off the bench.

Sam Merrill: C+

Stats: 9 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 3-6 FG, 3-5 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 20 MIN

Merrill was a spark plug from deep, knocking down 3-of-5 three-point attempts en route to nine points. His ability to stretch the floor was valuable, and he added two rebounds and a steal in his 20 minutes of action. While his contributions were mostly limited to shooting, Merrill’s efficiency and confidence from beyond the arc gave Cleveland an offensive boost.

De’Andre Hunter: C

Stats: 6 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 2-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 1-2 FT, -2, 19 MIN

Hunter’s six points and three rebounds were modest, and his shooting was subpar at 2-of-6 from the field. He struggled to make a significant impact on either end, often appearing passive. With no steals or blocks, Hunter’s defensive contributions were limited, and his -2 plus-minus reflected a largely forgettable performance.

Isaac Okoro: C

Stats: 5 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +11, 16 MIN

Okoro played just 16 minutes but was efficient, scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting, including a three-pointer. His activity on defense and +11 plus-minus suggested he made the most of his limited opportunities. However, his inability to generate more offense or create for others highlighted his ongoing role limitations within the rotation.

Javonte Green: N/A

Stats: 3 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-2 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 3 MIN

Green saw only three minutes of action, scoring three points on a lone three-point attempt. His limited playing time and minimal impact on the game make it difficult to assess his performance beyond the small sample.

Tristan Thompson: N/A

Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 3 MIN

Thompson grabbed two rebounds and scored two points in his three-minute cameo. His physicality in the paint was evident, but with such limited playing time, his impact was negligible.

Jaylon Tyson: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 3 MIN

Tyson recorded one assist but missed his only shot attempt in three minutes of play. His -7 plus-minus in such a short span wasn’t promising, but the limited minutes make it hard to draw any meaningful conclusions.

Craig Porter Jr.: N/A

Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 3 MIN

Porter Jr. didn’t attempt a shot or record any points, rebounds, or assists in his brief three-minute stint. A single turnover and a -7 plus-minus reflected a rough outing, but the limited sample size makes it hard to judge his performance overall.