The Cleveland Cavaliers gave the recently crowned NBA Cup champions Milwaukee a sobering reality check on Friday, defeating them 124-101 to increase their league-best record to 24-4.
The Cavaliers led by as much as 36 points thanks to 27 points from Donovan Mitchell and 16 from Darius Garland, while the Bucks suffered without injured player Damian Lillard.
With 33 points, 14 rebounds, and three steals, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Tuesday’s NBA Cup final.
Milwaukee’s returning Khris Middleton scored 14 points off the bench, but starting guards Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green combined for a scoreless 0-for-9 shooting performance.
Max Strus, who had been sidelined due to hip and ankle problems, made his season debut, which was good news for the Cavaliers, who have won seven of their previous eight games and are now 15-1 at home.
Strus made three of Cleveland’s 20 three-pointers and scored nine points in 19:07 minutes while playing off the bench.
- Embiid fuels Sixers –
Joel Embiid, the great centre for the Philadelphia 76ers, returned from a one-game absence due to a sinus fracture to score 34 points in a 108-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets while sporting a protective mask.
After suffering an unintentional knock to the face last week, Embiid was predicted to be sidelined at least until Saturday. However, he contributed five rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and two blocked shots.
As they attempt to get into the running for a play-in slot, Philadelphia recorded their fourth victory in five games with 23 points from Tyrese Maxey and 22 from Kelly Oubre Jr.
Embiid has missed a lot of the Sixers’ faltering campaign. After his season start was delayed due to a problematic left knee, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player was just playing in his sixth game of the season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who lost to the Bucks in Tuesday’s Cup final, defeated the Heat 104-97 in Milwaukee to record their second straight win.
The Thunder, who had just defeated the Orlando Magic on Thursday, had 33 points from Jalen Williams and 25 from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Miami obviously missed the contribution of great forward Jimmy Butler, who left the game in the first quarter and was sidelined for the remainder due to sickness, but Tyler Herro led the Heat with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
Bam Adebayo of Miami left the game for a short while in the third quarter after unintentionally getting elbowed above his left eye. After seven stitches, he came back and ended with 10 rebounds and 17 points.
