In a hard-fought battle, the shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers came up just short against the Milwaukee Bucks, falling 118-116. The Cavs had a chance to tie in the closing moments, but Jarrett Allen's putback attempt came just after the buzzer, sealing their fate.
This matchup was notable for the absence of key players. The Cavs were missing Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley, while the Bucks played without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Taurean Prince. The lack of star power led to a game filled with momentum swings and players stepping into unfamiliar roles.
Despite the challenges, Jarrett Allen shone brightly. He dominated on both ends, putting up 27 points on 10-15 shooting and grabbing 11 rebounds. His performance underscored his importance to the team, regardless of who else is on the court.
Cleveland started strong, taking an early lead, but the Bucks responded with a barrage of three-pointers to pull ahead by 12 in the third quarter. The Cavs rallied to take a slim lead into the fourth, but the final period was a grind, with neither team able to pull away.
Kevin Porter Jr. hit a crucial jumper to give Milwaukee a two-point edge with 20 seconds left. Cleveland had a chance to tie it, but Dennis Schroder's runner missed, and Allen's follow-up was too late.
Three-point shooting proved pivotal once again. The Bucks hit 42.2% from beyond the arc, a key factor in their victory. While the Cavs focused on protecting the paint, Milwaukee exploited the perimeter, a strategy that paid off handsomely.
Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 20 points, while Ryan Rollins added 18, and Kyle Kuzma contributed 17, including five three-pointers. Schroder, stepping up as the Cavs' starting point guard, delivered 26 points and five assists, despite tweaking his ankle late in the game. Keon Ellis, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson each chipped in 14 points.
This loss marks the Cavs' second in their last three games, but considering the circumstances-missing key players and playing their fifth game in seven nights-it's hard to be too discouraged.
Next up, Cleveland hits the road to face the conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Friday, with tip-off set for 7 PM.