Big G gets 44 in win over Cavs

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Giannis Antetokounmpo matched his career high with 44 points and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-102 on Friday night despite missing two starters.

Antetokounmpo’s big night came after being held to a season-low 12 points Wednesday night in a loss to Indiana. He was 14 of 19 from the field, made 16 of 21 foul shots, and had 14 rebounds and eight assists.

Khris Middleton, the Bucks’ second leading scorer, was out with a sprained right finger. Malcolm Brogdon, fourth on the team in scoring, didn’t play because of a sore left hamstring.

The Bucks never trailed and held off a late Cleveland spurt. The Cavaliers cut the lead to five midway through the fourth quarter on Cedi Osman’s 3-pointer, but Antetokounmpo had a three-point play and an assist on Brook Lopez’s basket that beat the shot clock, pushing the lead to 111-99.

Not only was Antetokounmpo coming off a subpar game, Wednesday’s 113-97 loss was their largest margin of the season.

Brook Lopez scored 19 points and Eric Bledsoe had 16 for the Bucks, who have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, and Larry Nance Jr. had 14 for Cleveland. Rookie point guard Collin Sexton had five points after scoring in double figures in 18 straight games.

Antetokounmpo made an instant impression after Milwaukee won the opening tip when he dunked on Osman on a set play in the halfcourt offense. He ended the half by finding Pat Connaughton for a 3-pointer.

LOOK OUT

Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova dove into the scorers table saving a ball that was headed out of bounds in the second quarter and crashed into Fred McLeod, the team’s television play-by-play man.

The collision sent both to the floor while papers and notes went flying. Dellavedova climbed over the table and returned to action. McLeod was helped up and continued to call the game, but his chair got the worst of the impact and was replaced.

Cleveland acquired Dellavedova from Milwaukee for George Hill last week. Dellavedova scored 10 points while Hill two.

UP NEXT

Bucks: At Detroit on Monday night.

Cavaliers: Host Philadelphia on Sunday.