Cavaliers Lose to Bucks 126-116: Game Recap 1/24/24

Post-Game Recap

3 Key Factors Around the Loss

1 – Giannis 

It is hard for the Cavaliers to win when Giannis Antetokounmpo goes off as he did on Wednesday night with a triple-double of 35 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists.  Cavs Jarrett Allen, who was on Antetokounmpo most of the night, struggled to pick him up full court.  Allen did have a double-double with 21 points and twelve rebounds. 

2 – Free Throws

The Bucks dominated from the free throw line, going 25 for 28, compared to the Cavs, only going eleven for 15. 

3 – Bench Points

Cleveland still had the upper hand in bench scoring with the Cavs scoring 42 points compared to only 22 for the Bucks.

Game Summary

Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved his third triple-double in the last four games, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 126-116 victory on Wednesday night. The win snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers’ eight-game winning streak following the firing of coach Adrian Griffin.

Antetokounmpo delivered an impressive performance with 35 points, matching a season-high 18 rebounds, and contributing 10 assists for his seventh triple-double of the season. He is just one assist away from achieving four straight triple-doubles, as he had 31 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists in the previous game against Detroit.

Despite Griffin’s dismissal, the Bucks, under interim head coach Joe Prunty, showcased resilience. Prunty took charge while negotiations with Doc Rivers for a permanent position were underway. The Bucks, holding the Eastern Conference’s second-best record, aimed to improve their defensive play compared to the previous coach’s tenure.

The Cavaliers, who had been dominant in recent games, failed to lead throughout the match. Milwaukee, recovering from a previous lopsided defeat to Cleveland, displayed a much-improved performance. Despite a late effort by the Cavaliers to narrow the margin, Antetokounmpo’s impactful plays secured the Bucks’ victory.

Notable contributions came from Damian Lillard with 28 points and Khris Middleton with 24 for the Bucks. For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, and Jarrett Allen recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 assists.

This marked Prunty’s third stint as an NBA interim coach, having previously led the Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks in similar roles. The Cavaliers, playing without backup center Tristan Thompson due to suspension, faced their first game since the announcement of his 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. Thompson tested positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033.

Up Next

At Milwaukee Bucks Friday.