Bucks 108, Cavaliers 92: Easy win without Giannis
No Giannis Antetokounmpo, no problem.
The Bucks superstar did not play due to neck soreness, but Milwaukee was able to muster enough collective effort for a 108-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Fiserv Forum on Monday.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo told him that he couldn't play about an hour before the game.
"The medical group came in before him and said he wasn't going to be able to go," Budenholzer said. "The way he's built, the way his mind is, you know he'd kind of do anything to play."
Antetokounmpo seemed like he would be OK for the team's upcoming road trip.
"I'm fine," he said while exiting the arena after the game.
The Bucks were playing one the NBA's worst teams on the second night of a back-to-back set.
The Cavaliers, who entered the matchup with a record of 6-20, did not inspire the same high-intensity atmosphere as the Bucks' previous two games against the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors.
BOX SCORE: Bucks 108, Cavaliers 92
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But the Bucks found a way to make up for Antetokounmpo's absence, getting double-digit scoring nights from five players.
Eric Bledsoe led the way with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
"Everybody just had to step up," Bledsoe said. "That's almost 30 points a game that we're missing."
The game predictably had a lackluster start, with the teams trading misses until Bucks center Brook Lopez finally found the bottom of the net almost two minutes into the game.
The crowd at Fiserv Forum didn't have much to cheer for until former Bucks guard Matthew Dellavedova checked in for the first time this season with the Cavaliers at the 3:57 mark of the first quarter.
Dellavedova was traded to Cleveland along with John Henson on Friday. Henson is out until spring after wrist surgery and sat at the end of the Cavaliers' bench in street clothes. The Bucks acquired veteran guard George Hill and center Jason Smith in the deal, which also included the Washington Wizards.
After clapping for Dellavedova, Bucks fans only had to wait until the next dead ball to warmly welcome Hill. The guard immediately brought some needed energy to the game by diving to save a rebound before the ball went out of bounds.
Bucks guard Sterling Brown also provided a spark, hitting all four of his shots and scoring eight points as Milwaukee took a 31-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
"Sterling's really given us a great kind of toughness," Budenholzer said. "A physicality, energy, competitiveness off the bench.
"He's in a good place. He's really kind of gobbling up some of those minutes."
Hill got his first basket for the Bucks on a strong drive after the Cavaliers started the second quarter on a 7-0 run.
The Bucks were able to take control on the strength of their three-point shooting, taking a 50-30 lead after back-to-back triples by Bledsoe and Lopez.
Milwaukee led, 59-41, at halftime. The Bucks played 11 players in the first half, with only newcomer Smith not seeing the court.
Malcolm Brogdon scored the Bucks' first 11 points of the second half, repeatedly beating Cavaliers rookie Collin Sexton off the dribble for layups.
Brogdon finished with 18 points.
"Tonight was a team win," he said. "It was a collective win. I thought we showed what we could do when Giannis isn't there, that we're still a good team."
Milwaukee's lead eventually ballooned to 29 points and Cleveland didn't cut into the lead until late in the game.
Budenholzer mostly used his reserves in the fourth quarter, with second-year forward D.J. Wilson seeing his most action of the season. The biggest cheer from the crowd in the second half came when Wilson caught an alley-oop pass from Brown and dunked in the fourth quarter.
Smith eventually checked in at the 8:55 mark of the final quarter. He missed all three shots he took but grabbed four rebounds in just under five minutes.
Hill finished with two points, two assists and two rebounds in his Bucks debut.
In addition to Antetokounmpo, the Bucks were playing without guard Pat Connaughton (coach's decision) and Christian Wood (G League assignment).
The Bucks still put together consecutive victories before a three-game trip.
"Coming off a back-to-back, I like the effort and focus," Budenholzer said. "A good win for us tonight."