Cavs don't stumble this time, topple mighty Bucks for fifth straight win

CLEVELAND — If Wednesday's Central Division showdown with Milwaukee was a "measuring stick" type of game for the Cavaliers, they should now realize they can play with anyone in the NBA. Donovan Mitchell poured in a team-high 36 points to power Cleveland to a 114-106 victory over the Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Milwaukee (22-9) came into the game with the best record in the league. The Cavs withstood a 45-point, 14-rebound performance by Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP. If he keeps playing at that level, he could bring home his third trophy for his bookshelf. "He's the most forceful player in the league," Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "He's difficult to stop." Other than the "Greek Freak" though, the Cavs (22-11) kept the rest of the Bucks in check. "We eliminated the other people," Bickerstaff said. The Bucks cut a 24-point deficit to five at 109-104 with two minutes and 21 seconds left after Pat Connaughton's 3-pointer. But Cleveland refused to buckle under the pressure. "(It was) our resiliency," Mitchell said. "At the end of the day, (Antetokounmpo) had 45 and we won. It was a group effort." Guard Darius Garland contributed 23 points and center Jarrett Allen added 19 points and eight rebounds. Forward Kevin Love had nine points and nine rebounds off the bench. The Cavs have won five in a row and improved to an NBA-best 16-2 at home. They also climbed to within one game of the Bucks in the Central Division. Bickerstaff downplayed the "measuring stick" question before the game. "But I'd be lying to you if that competition doesn't excite you a little more," he said. "That's competition, right? You want to give (it) your best shot." And they did. "Hopefully, we have more in the tank," Bickerstaff said. "It's a step in the right direction. I hope this wasn't our best game of the season." Cleveland performed horribly in the third quarters of each of their 15-point losses to Milwaukee this season. The Cavs weren't going to let that happen again. The Bucks outscored them in the third quarter but only 35-33, and the difference came after a flurry of 3-pointers in the waning seconds. Mitchell and Bucks guard Jrue Holiday took turns banking in 38-foot, 3-pointers in the last 2.7 seconds of the third but the Cavs ended the quarter ahead 93-77. "I couldn't help but laugh," Mitchell said. "We were both laughing. We celebrated too early." Mitchell was 9-of-21 from the field, 3-of-9 from the 3-point line and 15-of-16 from the foul line. He started attacking the basket when he "couldn't make a shot to save my life." "I was trying to force the issue and force myself into the game," he said. The Cavs extended their lead to 60-42 at halftime. "They are a championship team," Bickerstaff said. "In the past, we haven't been able to sustain their runs. "It's about (our) trust. (We) are believing in one another. When mistakes happen, we don't fold." Tip-ins Cavs starting forward Lamar Stevens remained out for the third consecutive game with a sore right knee. "He's doing more and more every day," Bickerstaff said. "He's been looked at. It's about what he's able to handle (pain-wise)." ** Bickerstaff said Isaac Okoro has done a good job replacing Stevens in the starting lineup. He scored in double figures in two of the last three games. "This is the best we've seen of him," he said. "A lot of that's on me. The longer he's on the floor, the more good things happen." ** Bucks guard Jrue Holiday was commended by Bickerstaff as an elite defender. "He's not afraid (to guard anyone)," he said. "He has some of the best feet (in the NBA). He can stay in front of people. His demeanor never changes. He stays even keel and moves onto the next play." Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @BobCavsinsider. Cavaliers 114, Bucks 106 MILWAUKEE (106): Beauchamp 4-7 0-0 11, G. Antetokounmpo 17-27 11-16 45, B.Lopez 5-7 2-3 14, G.Allen 2-7 0-0 6, Holiday 3-12 2-3 9, Portis 3-7 0-0 6, Ingles 1-3 0-0 3, Carter 2-8 0-0 6, Connaughton 2-5 0-0 6, Matthews 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 39-83 15-22 106. CLEVELAND (114): E. Mobley 3-7 1-2 7, Okoro 3-6 0-0 8, J.Allen 8-10 3-4 19, Garland 9-19 3-4 23, Mitchell 9-21 15-16 36, Osman 3-5 0-2 6, Love 3-7 0-0 9, LeVert 3-10 0-0 6. Totals 41-85 22-28 114. Milwaukee&emsp;&emsp;20&emsp;&emsp;22&emsp;&emsp;35&emsp;&emsp;29&emsp;&emsp;—&emsp;&emsp;106Cleveland&emsp; &emsp;35&emsp;&emsp;25&emsp;&emsp;33&emsp;&emsp;21&emsp;&emsp;—&emsp;&emsp;1143-Point Goals—Milwaukee 13-30 (Beauchamp 3-5, B.Lopez 2-3, Connaughton 2-3, G.Allen 2-3, Carter 2-6, Ingles 1-3, Holiday 1-4, G.Antetokounmpo 0-1, Portis 0-2), Cleveland 10-32 (Love 3-6, Mitchell 3-9, Okoro 2-4, Garland 2-5, Osman 0-2, E.Mobley 0-3, LeVert 0-3). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Milwaukee 46 (G.Antetokounmpo 14), Cleveland 37 (Love 9). Assists—Milwaukee 20 (Holiday 8), Cleveland 22 (Mitchell 6). Total Fouls—Milwaukee 23, Cleveland 21. A—19,432 (19,432)