Bucks Zone

The Milwaukee Bucks lean on Giannis, Lillard to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers

Milwaukee's two superstars were too much for the Cavaliers.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

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Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard powered the Milwaukee Bucks to a 119-111 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Giannis finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds, while Dame tallied 31 points, 24 of which came in the second half.

The two All-Star teammates each scored 14 points in the third quarter, where the Bucks outscored the Cavs, 40-21, to turn a 52-59 halftime deficit into a sizable 92-80 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Bucks fight back

Cleveland led by as many as 15 points in the first half, but Milwaukee, behind the searing third-quarter run, built its own 15-point lead, 88-73, at the 2:52 mark of the third.

The closest that the Cavaliers could get was within four, with 56.8 seconds left in the contest.

Giannis and Khris Middleton combined for four made free throws to put the game away as the Bucks ended their four-game road trip at 3-1.

Impressive run in December

Middleton added 13 points, 11 assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Malik Beasley chipped in 15 points, with Brook Lopez putting up nine points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks.

Milwaukee ended the month of December with 11 wins and only two losses and will greet the New Year as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 24-8 record.

Donovan Mitchell returned from a four-game absence and led the Cavaliers with 34 points, six rebounds and nine assists.

Jarret Allen added a career-high 30 points on 15-of-17 shooting and had 12 rebounds and six assists.

Cleveland, which dropped to 18-14, played without Evan Mobley (left knee surgery) and point guard Darius Garland (jaw fracture).

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.