Bucks Edge Cavaliers 118-116
Milwaukee defeated Cleveland 118-116 in a thriller, with Jared Allen's potential game-winning shot at the buzzer ruled incomplete. The Bucks are now just one game out of the play-in tournament position, while Allen's near-miss kept Cleveland from a crucial victory in their playoff push.
The game was a back-and-forth affair long before the final buzzer drama; the score was tied at 33 after the first quarter, and the Bucks held a slim one-point lead at halftime. Neither team could build a significant advantage, setting the stage for a possession-by-possession battle in the final minutes. Both teams were playing with significantly depleted rosters. The Cavaliers were without stars Donovan Mitchell (strained right groin) and the recently acquired James Harden, who broke his right thumb the previous night. The Bucks were missing their own superstar, as Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out his 13th consecutive game with a strained right calf. In the absence of superstars, other players stepped up. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 20 points, adding eight rebounds and five assists. For the Cavaliers, Jarrett Allen was dominant inside, posting 27 points and 11 rebounds for his 10th double-double in the last 11 games. Recently acquired guard Dennis Schroder added 26 points for Cleveland, his highest point total in nine games with the team. The frantic final minute saw Dennis Schroder tie the game at 116 with just over 35 seconds left. Kevin Porter Jr. responded with what would become the game-winning jumper from the free-throw line, putting Milwaukee up 118-116 with 20.2 seconds remaining on the clock. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Milwaukee, which has now won five of its last six games. For Cleveland, the loss was their second in the last 10 games and caused them to slip to fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, just a half-game behind the New York Knicks.
