Despite the hot start, Cleveland loses this one to Milwaukee 119-111. Not all is bad though, as there were some very high points for certain players. Here’s a look at the game as Cleveland loses to Milwaukee 119-111.
Starting lineup
The Cavaliers went with a starting lineup of Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen.
Hot start
Cleveland started hot, never trailing in the first half. Mitchell entered halftime with 19 points while Allen had 16.
Despite the game he would go on to have, they managed to contain Giannis most of the first half. There was a sequence where Giannis missed a wide open dunk, then was forced into a jump ball by Allen followed by an illegal screen by Antehekumpo. As Giannis was subbed out he was visibly frustrated. Although this didn’t last throughout the entire game, being able to contain and frustrate arguably the best player on the planet is a difficult task.
Aside from containing Antetokounmpo, the Bucks themselves were effectively contained in this first half. They didn’t score a field goal for over six minutes into the second quarter. This is the quality of defense last year’s Cleveland squad built its identity around.
The Cavaliers entered halftime with a 52-59 lead.
Cold finish
As well as Cleveland started this game, it would not go their way. After watching the lead slowly, then rapidly, slip away the Cavs lost this game 119-111. In fact, once they took the lead, Milwaukee almost never trailed.
Although certain players stood out this game, particularly the second half, was a disappointing outing for Cleveland.
Standout players
In his first game back, Mitchell finished with 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Returning strong, Donovan Mitchell continues to do Donovan Mitchell things.
Jarrett Allen also had an outstanding game. He finished with (a career high) 30 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. He also did a phenomenal job of containing Giannis the first half. In Mobley’s absence, although he struggled at first, Allen continues to prove he is more than capable of manning the paint.
Another big standout was Craig Porter Jr. Although he didn’t get a ton of playing time (15 minutes, most of which was in the fourth) he made good use of it. He finished with 14 points and was a big part of Cleveland’s late-game comeback. He made multiple big shots within the last three minutes, showing that he’s capable of making good plays under pressure.
Takeaways
Although Cleveland lost this one, there are some big positives. Donovan Mitchell continues to look great, Allen continues to be a dominant force in the paint and CPJ continues to be the best rookie on this team.
The loss is tough to swallow, as the first half was such a good one for Cleveland, but they are (still) dealing with multiple injuries and the roster looks very different than anticipated at this point in the season.
Cleveland plays next on New Year’s Day (2024) in Toronto at 7:30 PM.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/sports/cleveland-loses-to-milwaukee-119-111/2023/12/30/
