Camille Naredo

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 28, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP/File

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 28: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 28, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE   Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Brian Babineau / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP)

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Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1734754619133NBA_CLE_Donovan Mitchell_AFP_embed.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 28, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Babineau, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 28, 2022 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. <em>Brian Babineau, NBAE via Getty Images/AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>LOS ANGELES -- The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a reality check to newly crowned NBA Cup champions Milwaukee on Friday, dominating the Bucks 124-101 to push their league-best record to 24-4.</p><p>Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Darius Garland added 16 for the Cavs, who led by as many as 36 points as the Bucks struggled in the absence of injured guard Damian Lillard.</p><p>Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks to victory in the NBA Cup final against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, scored 33 points with 14 rebounds and three steals.</p><p>Khris Middleton, back from illness, scored 14 points off the bench for Milwaukee, but starting guards Andre Jackson Jr and AJ Green were a combined 0-for-9 from the field, neither contributing a point.</p><p>The Cavaliers, winners of seven of their last eight, improved to 15-1 at home and got good news with the season debut of Max Strus -- who had been sidelined with hip and ankle injuries.</p><p>Strus scored nine points in 19:07 minutes off the bench for Cleveland and drilled three of their 20 three-pointers.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TR0tAqJjN_Y?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>&quot;We did it on both ends of the floor,&quot; Mitchell said. &quot;We set the tone, offensively, defensively. Knowing they had a long trip back (we were) trying to get going early, push the pace, and we did it for 48 minutes.&quot;</div><p>Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who had called it &quot;weird&quot; to pick up regular-season action after playing the semi-finals and final of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, said the game was not a good gauge of where the Bucks are.</p><p>&quot;We were flat, tired, whatever you want to call it,&quot; Rivers said. &quot;There&#x27;s no read on tonight&#x27;s game... give them all the credit.&quot;</p><div><strong>- Embiid fuels Sixers -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wa4qA9-CPbo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>In Philadelphia, the 76ers&#x27; star center Joel Embiid wore a protective mask as he returned after missing one game because of a sinus fracture to score 34 points in a 108-98 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.</div><p>Embiid, who had been expected to sit out at least through Saturday after taking an inadvertent blow to the face last week, added five rebounds, nine assists, two steals and two blocked shots.</p><p>Tyrese Maxey scored 23 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 22 for Philadelphia, who notched their fourth win in five games as they try to climb into the race for a play-in berth.</p><p>Embiid has been largely absent from the Sixers&#x27; stuttering season. The 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player was appearing in just his seventh game of the campaign after his troublesome left knee delayed his season debut.</p><p>The Oklahoma City Thunder, who fell to the Bucks in the Cup final on Tuesday, notched their second victory since then, beating the Heat 104-97 in Milwaukee.</p><p>Jalen Williams scored 33 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 25 for the Thunder, who were coming off a victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday.</p><p>Tyler Herro scored 28 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Heat, but Miami clearly missed the contribution of star forward Jimmy Butler, who departed in the first quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game because of illness.</p><p>Miami&#x27;s Bam Adebayo departed briefly in the third quarter after taking an accidental elbow over his left eye. He returned after receiving seven stitches and finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong><strong></strong></div>

<p>The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a reality check to newly crowned NBA Cup champions Milwaukee on Friday, dominating the Bucks 124-101 to push their league-best record to 24-4.</p>

The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a reality check to newly crowned NBA Cup champions Milwaukee on Friday, dominating the Bucks 124-101 to push their league-best record to 24-4.

NBA: Cavaliers cruise past Bucks, Embiid shines in Sixers win

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NBA: Cavaliers cruise past Bucks, Embiid shines in Sixers win

Agence France-Presse

Published December 21, 2024 12:17 PM PHT

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