MILWAUKEE (AP) — In a standout performance, Max Strus tallied 17 points to spearhead a well-rounded offensive effort by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who secured their 14th consecutive win by defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 112-100 on Sunday night. This victory marked only the second time a team has achieved 14 straight wins while scoring above 110 points in each of those games, with the first instance occurring in 1986 when the Boston Celtics accomplished the feat en route to winning a championship. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 30 points, elevating him to 50th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with a career total of 20,077 points, surpassing Tom Chambers’ tally of 20,049 points from 1981-98. Damian Lillard chipped in 22 points for the Bucks, who were playing back-to-back games following a 111-109 loss at home to the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Donovan Mitchell notched 15 points for Cleveland, supported by Darius Garland and Evan Mobley with 13 points each, and Jarrett Allen with 11. The Cavaliers took the lead for good in the first quarter and cemented their victory with a decisive 13-0 run in the fourth quarter. Takeaways from the game highlight Cleveland’s depth, with a balanced scoring effort from multiple players. On the other hand, the Bucks struggled against top Eastern Conference teams, falling to 0-9 against Cleveland, Boston, and New York. Key moments in the game included Mitchell’s pivotal 3-pointer that kickstarted the Cavaliers’ game-winning run after the Bucks closed in on the lead. Notably, Cleveland’s 3-point shooting prowess outmatched Milwaukee, with the Cavs outscoring the Bucks 57-27 from beyond the arc. Looking ahead, both teams are set to play on Tuesday, with the Cavaliers hosting the Brooklyn Nets and the Bucks visiting Indiana. ___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
