Cavaliers big three combine for 66 defeating Milwaukee 113-104
BY STONE LEXINGTON
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
It wasn’t easy, but the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 113-104 victory over the underachieving Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night in Quicken Loans Arena. The win was the Cavs’ (51-20) fourth in their last five games.
“I thought guys shared the ball,” Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue said. “I thought we played the right way.”
Cleveland’s ‘Big Three’ led the way against Milwaukee. LeBron James finished with a game-high 26 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Kevin Love added his 29th double-double of the season with 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Kyrie Irving totaled 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists on his 24th birthday. All five Cavs starters finished with double-figures in scoring.
Cleveland held a 106-100 lead after Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless converted a layup with 1:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, following several empty possessions by both teams, Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith sank a three-pointer with 20.2 seconds left that gave Cleveland a 111-102 lead and iced the game.
“Every night, he’s giving us effort every single night,” Lue said of Smith. “He’s playing hard. He’s competing. That’s all we can ask of J.R.”
Milwaukee battled the Eastern Conference-leading Cavs throughout the contest. Cleveland held a slim 63-61 lead at halftime and a 91-87 advantage after three quarters. Although Milwaukee (30-42) is in the midst of an extremely disappointing 2015-16 campaign, the Bucks hung with the Cavs until Smith’s dagger late in the fourth quarter. Before the playoffs arrive, Cleveland needs to shore up things on defense as Milwaukee shot 54 percent from the floor Wednesday.
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 24 points, six rebounds and six assists. Bayless totaled 15 points and five rebounds, while center Greg Monroe finished with 14 points.
The Cavs converted 10 of their 34 three-point attempts against the Bucks and have now knocked down 10 or more three-pointers in a franchise-record nine straight games. As the NBA becomes more of a shooting league, shots from beyond the arc are an essential component of the Cavs’ offense.
The Cavs have a quick turnaround as they play in Brooklyn against the Nets Thursday night..
POSTED 03/23/2016 22:55
Lake County Sentinel
