Game ID: 22500995
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET
Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
MIL 24 34 29 29 116CLE 37 20 28 38 123
CLE @ MIL ScoutingCLE @ MIL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
MIL availability going into 3/10 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
OUT Prince missed 55 since 11/07, returns tonight: 18 min (76% of 24)
OUT Harris missed 3 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Gia. Antetokounmp back 3/02 after 15, 26 min since (91% of 29)
NEW Sims 20 to 25 min over the last 5
MIL availability going into 3/12 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 3/04, returns tonight: 28 min (83% of 33)
OUT Harris missed 4 since 3/04, out tonight
BACK Gia. Antetokounmp back 3/02 after 15, 28 min since (96% of 29)
BACK Prince back 3/10 after 55, 18 min since (76% of 24)
NEW Sims 20 to 25 min over the last 4
MIL availability going into 3/14 · 1 day's restOUT Trent Jr. missed 2 since 3/10, returns tonight: 14 min (65% of 21)
OUT Harris missed 5 since 3/04, returns tonight: 5 min (39% of 14)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/12 after 4, 28 min since (83% of 33)
BACK Prince back 3/10 after 55, 16 min since (69% of 24)
NEW Sims 20 to 25 min over the last 4
MIL availability going into 3/15 · back-to-backBACK Porter Jr. back 3/12 after 4, 29 min since (87% of 33)
BACK Prince back 3/10 after 55, 15 min since (63% of 24)
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/14 after 2, 14 min since (65% of 21)
BACK Harris back 3/14 after 5, 5 min since (39% of 14)
NEW Sims 20 to 26 min over the last 4
MIL availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Dieng missed 2 since 3/14, returns tonight: 30 min (111% of 27)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/12 after 4, 29 min since (87% of 33)
BACK Prince back 3/10 after 55, 17 min since (71% of 24)
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/14 after 2, 14 min since (65% of 21)
BACK Harris back 3/14 after 5, 14 min since (98% of 14)
MIL availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Trent Jr. missed 2 since 3/15, returns tonight: 17 min (81% of 21)
OUT Thomas missed 2 since 3/15, returns tonight: 23 min (137% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/12 after 4, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Dieng back 3/17 after 2, 30 min since (111% of 27)
BACK Prince back 3/10 after 55, 18 min since (76% of 24)
BACK Harris back 3/14 after 5, 14 min since (98% of 14)
MIL availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restBACK Porter Jr. back 3/12 after 4, 30 min since (91% of 33)
BACK Dieng back 3/17 after 2, 27 min since (101% of 27)
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/14 after 2, 15 min since (73% of 21)
BACK Thomas back 3/19 after 2, 23 min since (137% of 17)
BACK Harris back 3/14 after 5, 12 min since (84% of 14)
MIL availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 3/19, out tonight
BACK Dieng back 3/17 after 2, 29 min since (108% of 27)
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/14 after 2, 18 min since (85% of 21)
BACK Thomas back 3/19 after 2, 19 min since (115% of 17)
BACK Harris back 3/14 after 5, 12 min since (84% of 14)
MIL availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 3/19, out tonight
OUT Ryan missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 4 min (18% of 25)
OUT Harris missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
BACK Dieng back 3/17 after 2, 29 min since (106% of 27)
BACK Trent Jr. back 3/19 after 2, 24 min since (112% of 21)
BACK Thomas back 3/19 after 2, 19 min since (115% of 17)
NEW Nance 16 to 21 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/09 · back-to-backOUT Tomlin missed 2 since 3/03, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 14)
OUT Nance Jr. missed 4 since 2/27, returns tonight: 4 min (31% of 12)
OUT Proctor missed 3 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Harden back 3/01 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 35)
BACK Mitchell back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Wade back 3/08 after 3, 21 min since (92% of 22)
NEW Merrill 25 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Tyson 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Schröder 19 to 29 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/11 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 2 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 4 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Harden back 3/01 after 2, 35 min since (99% of 35)
BACK Mitchell back 3/08 after 4, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Wade back 3/08 after 3, 20 min since (91% of 22)
BACK Tomlin back 3/09 after 2, 4 min since (26% of 14)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/09 after 4, 4 min since (31% of 12)
NEW Tyson 24 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 4
NEW Schröder 19 to 27 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/13 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 3 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 5 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Harden back 3/01 after 2, 35 min since (100% of 35)
BACK Mitchell back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Wade back 3/08 after 3, 20 min since (90% of 22)
BACK Tomlin back 3/09 after 2, 4 min since (26% of 14)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/09 after 4, 4 min since (31% of 12)
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/15 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 4 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 6 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/08 after 4, 32 min since (95% of 34)
BACK Wade back 3/08 after 3, 20 min since (88% of 22)
BACK Tomlin back 3/09 after 2, 10 min since (73% of 14)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/09 after 4, 5 min since (43% of 12)
NEW Ellis 20 to 27 min over the last 5
NEW Bryant 11 to 17 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/17 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 5 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Merrill missed 2 since 3/13, returns tonight: 28 min (112% of 25)
OUT Proctor missed 7 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 3/08 after 4, 34 min since (99% of 34)
BACK Wade back 3/08 after 3, 21 min since (93% of 22)
BACK Tomlin back 3/09 after 2, 11 min since (77% of 14)
BACK Nance Jr. back 3/09 after 4, 5 min since (43% of 12)
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/19 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 6 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 2 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 8 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 28 min since (112% of 25)
BACK Tomlin back 3/09 after 2, 11 min since (77% of 14)
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/21 · 1 day's restOUT Allen missed 7 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 3 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 9 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 30 min since (119% of 25)
NEW Ellis 20 to 28 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/24 · 2 days' restOUT Allen missed 8 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 4 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 10 since 3/01, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 30 min since (122% of 25)
NEW Ellis 20 to 26 min over the last 5
CLE availability going into 3/25 · back-to-backOUT Allen missed 9 since 3/08, out tonight
OUT Tyson missed 2 since 3/21, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Nance Jr. missed 5 since 3/15, out tonight
OUT Proctor missed 11 since 3/01, returns tonight: 6 min (62% of 10)
BACK Merrill back 3/17 after 2, 31 min since (125% of 25)
NEW Ellis 20 to 25 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 123, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 28 and Portis at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Dieng (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 21 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 21 a game. Without Allen (5 straight), Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been minus-2 a night and Milwaukee minus-8 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 115 a night to Milwaukee's 123. Call it Cleveland 118, Milwaukee 114, Milwaukee keeping it close.
3/10 vs PHX 114-129 — MIL notes
MIL lost 114-129. MIL shot 51% (42 of 82) to PHX's 54%, 16 of 38 from three, and went to the line 20 times to PHX's 11 — 14 points from the stripe to their 9. MIL turned it over 16 times to PHX's 11, and PHX turned those into 9 steals. Kuzma led with 33 (12 of 21, 6 of 10 from three); Turner added 22, Antetokounmpo 22. Q2 was theirs, 35-26, turning a 6-point deficit into a 3-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 103-79 against them. They led by as many as 11. Kuzma's -16 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/12 @ MIA 105-112 — MIL notes
MIL lost 105-112. MIL shot 49% (41 of 83) to MIA's 41%, 9 of 26 from three, and got to the line 19 times to MIA's 27. The glass went 36-53 against them. Antetokounmpo led with 31 (12 of 24, 7 of 11 at the line); Portis added 19, Rollins 16. Q2 was theirs, 30-28, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 84-75 against them. Dieng's -24 in 14 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/14 @ ATL 99-122 — MIL notes
MIL lost 99-122. MIL shot 49% (37 of 76) to ATL's 49%, 12 of 37 from three. MIL turned it over 20 times to ATL's 13, and ATL turned those into 10 steals. The glass went 37-47 against them. Rollins led with 22 (8 of 11, 4 of 7 from three); Porter Jr. added 18, Portis 14. Q1 was theirs, 30-31, but the other 3 periods went 91-69 against them. Porter Jr.'s -19 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/15 vs IND 134-123 — MIL notes
MIL won 134-123. MIL shot 54% (49 of 90) to IND's 52%, 23 of 44 from three. MIL turned it over 9 times to IND's 18. Antetokounmpo led with 31 (11 of 22, 9 of 13 at the line); Portis added 29, Rollins 20. The hinge was Q3, 40-31: MIL came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 6, and the lead reached 19. MIL trailed 62-65 at the half and won the second half 72-58. Antetokounmpo was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/17 vs CLE 116-123 — MIL notes
MIL lost 116-123. MIL shot 48% (42 of 88) to CLE's 49%, 20 of 45 from three, and got to the line 17 times to CLE's 34. Porter Jr. led with 25 (8 of 15, 1 of 4 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Rollins added 19, Portis 19. Q2 was theirs, 34-20, turning a 13-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 103-82 against them. Prince's -20 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/19 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 127, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Sensabaugh at 29 and Williams at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Mykhailiuk (8 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 42 from three, 19 free throws a game; Gia. Antetokounmpo at 28 and Portis at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Trent Jr. (2 straight), Thomas (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Milwaukee wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Utah giving it away 18 times a game to Milwaukee's 13 and the line, where Utah takes 24 free throws a game to Milwaukee's 19. Call it Milwaukee 119, Utah 118, Utah keeping it close.
3/21 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Booker at 34 and Green at 23 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Brooks (13 straight), Allen (2 straight), Williams (9 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 19 free throws a game; Portis at 18 and Rollins at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-3 a night and Milwaukee minus-9 and the defense, Phoenix allowing 113 a night to Milwaukee's 122. Call it Phoenix 117, Milwaukee 110.
3/23 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Leonard at 30 and Garland at 26 a game. They have lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Mathurin (3 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Rollins at 20 and Portis at 18 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Porter Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Clippers win, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it the Clippers 117, Milwaukee 112.
3/25 @ POR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Portland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 109, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 27 free throws a game; Avdija at 23 and Camara at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Grant (2 straight), Sharpe (21 straight), Love (17 straight). One day's rest. Milwaukee comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Rollins at 19 and Portis at 18 a game. Without Porter Jr. (3 straight), Ryan (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Portland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Portland has been plus-7 a night and Milwaukee minus-2 and the defense, Portland allowing 109 a night to Milwaukee's 122. Call it Portland 119, Milwaukee 111.
3/09 vs PHI 115-101 — CLE notes
CLE won 115-101. CLE shot 45% (38 of 84) to PHI's 46%, 16 of 44 from three, and went to the line 25 times to PHI's 18 — 23 points from the stripe to their 12. CLE turned it over 9 times to PHI's 14. Harden led with 21 (6 of 11, 3 of 8 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Ellis added 19, Mitchell 17. The hinge was Q3, 31-22: a lead of 12 became 21, and the lead reached 25. Ellis was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
3/11 @ ORL 122-128 — CLE notes
CLE lost 122-128. CLE shot 49% (44 of 89) to ORL's 52%, 17 of 44 from three, and got to the line 26 times to ORL's 37. Harden led with 30 (11 of 16, 5 of 9 from three); Mitchell added 25, Ellis 20. Q2 was theirs, 27-24, the deficit cut from 3 to 0, but the other 3 periods went 104-95 against them. Wade's -10 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/13 @ DAL 138-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 138-105. CLE shot 62% (56 of 91) to DAL's 44%, 18 of 38 from three, and got to the line 13 times to DAL's 24. Mobley led with 29 (12 of 15, 2 of 4 from three, 3 of 7 at the line); Mitchell added 24, Harden 17. The hinge was Q1, 38-21: from level to 17 ahead, and the lead reached 35. Harden was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
3/15 vs DAL 120-130 — CLE notes
CLE lost 120-130. CLE shot 51% (45 of 88) to DAL's 53%, 16 of 41 from three, and got to the line 21 times to DAL's 27. Mitchell led with 26 (10 of 24, 4 of 11 from three); Strus added 24, Mobley 18. Q4 was theirs, 34-30, the deficit cut from 14 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 100-86 against them. Wade's -12 in 26 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/17 @ MIL 123-116 — CLE notes
CLE won 123-116. CLE shot 49% (42 of 86) to MIL's 48%, 12 of 36 from three, and went to the line 34 times to MIL's 17 — 27 points from the stripe to their 12. Harden led with 27 (7 of 10, 2 of 4 from three, 11 of 13 at the line); Mobley added 27, Mitchell 19. The hinge was Q1, 37-24: from level to 13 ahead. CLE trailed 57-58 at the half and won the second half 66-58. Merrill was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/19 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 126, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 19 free throws a game; Buzelis at 26 and Giddey at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Simons (12 straight), Okoro (5 straight), Collins (38 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 116, shooting 51 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Harden at 22 a game. Without Allen (6 straight), Porter Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Cleveland allowing 116 a night to Chicago's 126 and the turnovers, Chicago giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 11. Call it Cleveland 121, Chicago 118, Chicago keeping it close.
3/21 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 107, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Murray at 26 and Murphy III at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without McGowens (5 straight), Jordan (4 straight), Peavy (2 straight). One day's rest. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 118, shooting 51 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Harden at 25 and Mobley at 24 a game. Without Allen (7 straight), Porter Jr. (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 107 a night to Cleveland's 118 and the turnovers, New Orleans giving it away 15 times a game to Cleveland's 12. Call it New Orleans 118, Cleveland 116, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/24 vs ORL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 113, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 24 and Mobley at 24 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Allen (8 straight), Porter Jr. (4 straight). 2 days' rest. Orlando comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 33 from three, 22 free throws a game; Banchero at 25 and Bane at 17 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Fra. Wagner (18 straight), Black (9 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-6 a night and Orlando minus-7 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 113 a night to Orlando's 120. Call it Cleveland 121, Orlando 112.
3/25 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 119, shooting 50 percent and 35 from three, 27 free throws a game; Mitchell at 28 and Harden at 24 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Allen (9 straight), Tyson (2 straight), Porter Jr. (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Miami comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 130, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 24 free throws a game; Adebayo at 24 and Powell at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Miami minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 119 a night to Miami's 130. Call it Cleveland 122, Miami 117.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
MILAG A. Green
BP B. Portis
JS J. Sims
KK K. Kuzma
KP K. Porter Jr.
OD O. Dieng
PN P. Nance
RR R. Rollins
TP T. Prince
CLEDM D. Mitchell
DS D. Schröder
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
JH J. Harden
JT J. Tyson
KE K. Ellis
MS M. Strus
SM S. Merrill
SC Schroder
TB T. Bryant
MIL/CLE the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Evan Mobley and James Harden lead the way as Cavaliers beat short-handed Bucks 123-116
MILWAUKEE -- — Evan Mobley had 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden also scored 27 as the Cleveland Cavaliers opened a three-game trip by beating the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 123-116 on Tuesday night.
Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. This was the career-high 32nd game the two-time MVP has missed this season, and the Bucks fell to 11-21 without him.
The Bucks also didn't have Myles Turner because of a right calf strain. Cleveland's Jarrett Allen missed a sixth straight game because of tendinitis in his right knee.
In a game featuring 11 ties and 16 lead changes, Cleveland pulled ahead for good 103-100 on Sam Merrill 's 3-pointer with 6:55 remaining, which started an 8-0 run.
Milwaukee cut the lead to 110-106 on an Ousmane Dieng 's 3-pointer with 3:39 left, but Cleveland responded with seven straight points. The Cavs stayed in front by at least five the rest of the way.
Milwaukee's Kevin Porter Jr . had 25 points and 10 assists. Dieng, Bobby Portis and Ryan Rollins added 19 points each.
Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points. Merrill added 17 points in his return from a two-game absence due to left hamstring tightness.
Milwaukee’s Taurean Prince played 22 minutes and scored eight points in his first start of the season. Prince, who has played just 10 games this season, returned earlier this month after undergoing surgery in November to repair a herniated disk in his neck.
The Bucks shot 20 of 45 from 3-point range, and their bench outscored Cleveland's 57-24. The Cavs compensated with a commanding edge from the foul line, going 27 of 34 while the Bucks were 12 of 17.