Bucks Zone

Three-game winning streak halted as the Bucks lose to Cavaliers

The Bucks couldn't survive third-quarter drought as they fell to the Cavs for the second time this season.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee BucksCleveland Cavaliers

The Milwaukee Bucks couldn't recover from a bad third-quarter performance, losing 112-100 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

The loss ended Milwaukee's three-game winning streak, while Cleveland avenged its 116-126 loss to the Bucks last Wednesday. The two squads split their regular-season series, 2-2.

It was Milwaukee's second game since the firing of coach Adrian Griffin. The organization has announced that Doc Rivers has been hired as the team's new head coach.

Third-quarter meltdown

Milwaukee had a 57-54 lead going into the second half and even stretched it to 65-60 before the team started firing blanks.

The Bucks did not score for six minutes as the Cavaliers staged a 14-0 run to build a 74-65 lead. Pat Connuahgton ended Milwaukee's scoring drought with a three-pointer with 2:02 left in the third.

Jae Crowder and Bobby Portis Jr. hit back-to-back triples, and Connaughton added another one allowing the Bucks to end the third down by just three, 77-80.

Cleveland started the fourth period with nine unanswered points to go up, 89-77. The Cavaliers extended their lead to 104-88 with four minutes left, but the Bucks moved within 100-106 with only 1:39 left. However, they didn't score from that point on and went on to absorb their 14th loss in 45 games.

Erratic night for Dame, Giannis

Giannis Antetokounmpo fell one assist shy from having his second-straight triple-double as he tallied 22 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.

Damian Lillard also scored 22 points on 7-for-14 from the field. The Bucks' superstar duo committed 10 of Milwaukee's 18 turnovers.

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, and Jarret Allen added 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in the last 10 games to improve to 27-16 on the season.

Would a trade for Sacramento Kings guard Davion Mitchell make sense for Bucks?

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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.