The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their impressive season on March 9, 2025, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 112-100 at Fiserv Forum. This victory not only marked the Cavs' 14th consecutive win but also saw them complete the season series sweep against the struggling Bucks, who now hold an unfortunate record of 0-9 against the top teams of the Eastern Conference this season.
The game began with both teams showcasing their offensive capabilities. With his second basket, Giannis Antetokounmpo made headlines by surpassing Tom Chambers, claiming the 50th spot on the NBA's all-time scoring list. He finished the night with 30 points, supported by Damian Lillard's solid contribution of 22 points. Despite their top performers, the Bucks struggled to maintain possession, accumulating 17 turnovers throughout the game.
At the start of the game, Cleveland looked sharp. The Cavaliers managed to secure the lead with 34-32 by the end of the first quarter, riding on the performance of their players, particularly Max Strus, who maintained momentum with his 17 points, even though he didn't score during the game's latter stages. Cleveland's lead grew following turnovers from Milwaukee's reserves, providing the Cavs with the opportunity to extend their advantage to 62-52 by halftime, having outscored the Bucks 28-20 during the second quarter.
Milwaukee's offensive approach, fueled by Antetokounmpo's aggression, was momentarily halted as the Cavaliers capitalized on early mistakes, leading to Cleveland's sustained scoring runs. The Bucks made attempts to reduce the gap, pulling within four points at 84-80, just before the third quarter ended. Yet, they were unable to convert their opportunities consistently enough.
The fourth quarter witnessed Milwaukee struggling, unable to score for over four minutes at one point. Cleveland seized this opportunity, orchestrated by their potent offense, going on a devastating 13-0 run. This helped to build their lead to 102-84, leaving the Bucks scrambling for answers with just over four minutes remaining.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Bucks had pushed back but to no avail, ending up with only 21 seconds of lead time during the entire game. The overall statistics were disheartening: their turnovers contributed to Cleveland scoring 17 points off those mistakes—an indicative figure of the mismatch during pivotal moments.
Antetokounmpo's 30 points reaffirmed his status as one of the league's elite scorers, and Lillard, who joined the Buck's star dynamic, averaged 25.5 points per game. The duo's efforts, combined with the fact they account for the most potent scoring tandem with both players ranking among the league's top 15 point scorers, still did not enough to shift the negative momentum against high-ranking opponents.
On the other hand, the Cavaliers' collective performance reinforced their place as championship contenders as they have averaged 126.1 points per game over their 14-game winning streak and lead the league with 123.1 points per game overall, coupled with excellent offensive ratings. Their ability to score efficiently from beyond the arc—hovering around 39.2 percent—is conspicuous, and it's evident why they have left such formidable teams like the Bucks reeling.
Despite their disheartening loss to Cleveland, Milwaukee is still poised for the playoffs, sitting just three and half games behind the New York Knicks for the coveted third position. Coach Doc Rivers believes there's still room for improvement, especially with tough contests looming on the horizon, including their upcoming road trip.
The loss for Milwaukee, now at 36-27, exemplifies their struggles against top-tier teams—highlighting the clear gap between the Bucks and the elite teams of the Eastern Conference. Perhaps the schedule's relentlessness, compounded by recent injuries and roster adjustments, will spur necessary changes to improve their performance as they head toward the playoffs. But, heading back to Washington, with many games left on their schedule, their playoff chase remains very much alive.