Dribbles: Cavs’ fight not enough as hot streak ends against mighty Bucks

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ 126-116 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

1. Everything was working against the Cavaliers. They battled anyway. But the winning streak has come to an end after a league-best eight games.

2. The Bucks are a doggone good team. They were at home. They played an inspiring brand of basketball after just undergoing a surprising coaching change. Sometimes, you just have to tip your hat to the other guy.

3. The Cavs (26-16) were just overmatched, outmanned, you name it. And again, they were on someone else’s court. Not just anyone, either. This opponent featured Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and is built to compete for a championship right now. 

4. On top of that, I would venture to say the Cavs weren’t even at their best. Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points, but was a little out of sorts. He kept after it, so this isn’t about a lack of effort. But his 2-of-11 shooting on 3-pointers showed it just wasn’t his night.

5. For the Cavs to win a game like this, Mitchell needs to be at his absolute best. Pretty much everyone does.

6. So I sure wouldn’t sweat it if I were Cleveland. Few teams have played as well as they have over the past month. The Bucks (31-13) were just on fire. They can do that. Just ask the Boston Celtics, who the Bucks beat 135-102 a few weeks back, building a lead as big as 43 points.

7. Translation: A win here would’ve been a major stunner.

8. What’s more important is that the Cavs kept fighting. They just couldn’t get over the hump. Every time they had a chance to cause the Bucks a little bit of anxiety … the shot just didn’t drop.

9. It’s been a long time since the Cavs trailed wire to wire, but that’s what happened on this night. In the five games leading up to this one, they trailed for a total of 35 seconds. They were due.

10. On the bright side, Jarrett Allen finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds, recording his 13th straight double-double. He set the franchise record in that category in the last game and said he hopes to keep it going.

11. Georges Niang and Max Strus scored 14 points each, Sam Merrill had 12 and Isaac Okoro 10. Offense wasn’t the issue. The Cavs have been outstanding defensively and in the rebounding department. Milwaukee made sure that wasn’t the case on Wednesday.

12. In the event you didn’t enjoy this one enough, don’t worry. The Cavs visit the Bucks again on Friday. Yeah, I know. Who’s idea was that?

13. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff mentioned that very fact. “Give the Bucks credit, they played well,” he told reporters. “The good part about it is we get to do it all again on Friday.” 

14. The Cavs struggled mightily to keep Antetokounmpo (35 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists) away from the basket. That’s nothing new. Everyone does. “We just have to protect the paint,” Strus said of Friday’s rematch. “They just went by us the whole night. We let them do what they wanted to do.”

15. So, it’s a loss, yes. But not a disappointing one. Unless you thought the Cavs would go on a 49-game winning streak to end the season. At this writing, they still sit in second in the Central Division (behind the Bucks) and fourth in the Eastern Conference. 

16. Basically, an NBA season has its ups and downs. Despite the injuries and other obstacles, the Cavs have stayed determined, and that’s what truly matters.