Two of the highest groups within the Jap Convention will face off for the ultimate time this season when the Milwaukee Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday evening.
It is the second evening of a weekend back-to-back at house for Milwaukee, which fell to the Orlando Magic 111-109 on Saturday evening. The loss snapped the Bucks’ four-game profitable streak.
Orlando led by as many as 17 within the second half and fended off Milwaukee’s fourth-quarter comeback try. Bucks coach Doc Rivers mentioned he did not like the shortage of ball motion that has plagued his offense at instances this season.
“We did not transfer the ball so much,” he mentioned. “We danced with the ball. … After we do this, we’re not excellent. We gave in to lots of their physicality. I believed they have been a lot extra bodily tonight.”
Cleveland is on one other mammoth run, profitable its thirteenth consecutive sport on Friday evening, 118-117 in comeback style towards the Hornets in Charlotte.
Total, the Cavaliers have gained 17 of their previous 18 video games and are two wins away from tying the 15-game profitable streak that began their season.
The Cavaliers have been down by 9 factors within the fourth quarter on Friday however ended on a 23-13 run. Donovan Mitchell led the best way with 24 factors, and the group made 43 free throws, capturing 43 of 51 (84.3 %).
“I imply, we gained. However that was … we gained,” Mitchell mentioned. “We’re profitable video games, however I am all the time going to carry us to a excessive normal, myself included. Tough begin and tough end. We should not have been in that place: errors, turnovers, defensive mishaps, rebounds.”
Mitchell leads Cleveland with a median of 24.4 factors per sport, Darius Garland averages 6.7 assists, and Jarrett Allen is the highest rebounder with a median of 10.3.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee, averaging 30.9 factors and 12.1 rebounds per sport. Damian Lillard averages 7.2 assists.
On the damage entrance, Cleveland’s report is obvious. Milwaukee was with out Pat Connaughton (calf), Gary Trent Jr. (knee) and Ryan Rollins (private causes) on Saturday. Antetokounmpo (calf) was questionable going into the sport and Lillard (eye) was possible, however each performed.
Cleveland has overwhelmed Milwaukee in all three conferences this season. The Cavaliers swept a home-and-home sequence on Nov. 2 and 4, 114-113 and 116-114, respectively, then gained 124-101 in Cleveland on Dec. 20.
In the newest matchup, Mitchell paced six Cleveland scorers in double figures with 27 factors and 6 assists. With out Lillard on the ground, Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 33 factors and 14 rebounds.
The Cavaliers are a high group within the league in most classes on the stat sheet, however notably on the offensive aspect.
Cleveland leads the NBA in offensive ranking (122.1), factors per sport (123.1) and 3-point share (39.2 %). They’re second in general NET Score (11.0) to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (12.6).
Milwaukee is true behind them in 3-point share (38.3 %). Cleveland additionally has a better defensive ranking (111.1) than the Bucks (111.8).
The Cavaliers are on the best way to profitable the NBA’s Central Division. They’ve a 16 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee, which has gained the Central the previous six seasons.
–Area Stage Media
