Dribbles: Cavs stun Bucks, as inspirational hot streak marches on

Random dribbles following the Cavaliers’ incredibly impressive 112-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.

1. They say you should never get too excited about a regular-season game, but if you’re a Cavs fan, go ahead. This was a biggie.

2. The Milwaukee Bucks? On the road? With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, just announced as All-Star Game starters? It didn’t sound doable. But the Cavs did it — with heart, hustle, and a whole lot of belief that they’re probably better than people think.

3. So make it nine wins in 10 games, and yes, still without the injured Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. 

4. How did the Cavs do it? Well, partially by treating this as if it were a playoff game. No, seriously. They approached it like a Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. Or maybe even an elimination game.

5. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff to reporters: “How we studied, how we prepared, what we did yesterday (at practice), what happened at shootaround, we wanted to use it as kind of a dry run for us, so to speak, for what a playoff game would look like.”

6. If this game is the example, then the Cavs are playoff-ready.

7. Now, I see your emails. I read the comments on my Facebook page. I know what you’re about to say. “The Cavs should trade Garland.” Or maybe it’s “time to move Mobley.” Some have gone as far as to say to trade both.

8. Look, I get it. The Cavs have been fantastic since Garland (jaw) and Mobley (knee) went down about a month ago. The thought of trading one of them has crossed even my own demented mind. I sometimes wonder what the Cavs could get in return and how those pieces might fit.

9. But it’s a crazy thought. I don’t think there’s any world in which the Cavs would be better, in the long-term, without their second- and third-leading scorers. Yes, they’re playing great. But this is the NBA and you need stars when it means the most. Garland and Mobley are almost stars. 

10. At some point, the Cavs (27-16) will really need them. I think eventually, all this “Cavs should trade Garland/Mobley” talk will end. I think that people will see how much better things are when they return. I’m not saying I’m positive. I’ve been wrong before and will be again. But it’s what I strongly believe. 

11. Actually, I don’t think the Cavs should make a single trade before the Feb. 8 deadline. Your core is in place. Your bench is evolving. Things are clicking. Everyone is playing a very determined brand of basketball. Let’s see how far this can go.

12. Anyway, back to the game. Donovan Mitchell was much better than in Wednesday’s loss to the Bucks, scoring 32 points and seemingly back to his old self. He wasn’t bad on Wednesday; he was just OK. On this night, he looked energized.

13. And of course, Jarrett Allen got another double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds. He set the franchise record for consecutive double-doubles a couple games ago. He’s just building on that record now, with 14 straight.

14. Cleveland took the lead for good, against a team with championship dreams, by going on a 14-0 run in the third quarter. The Bucks didn’t score a single point for 6½ minutes.

15. Caris LeVert added 12 points, including a massive 3-pointer with 1:16 left — after the Bucks made a run to cut it to 106-100. And that was pretty much the ballgame. Max Strus added 11 points and Georges Niang scored 10.

16. Yes, the Cavs avenged a loss to the Bucks, also in Milwaukee, from two nights before. Cleveland looked sluggish that night. Milwaukee looked like it might not lose again. Things were much different on Friday.

17. Allen on the win: “We felt a step behind last game. I don’t think we were ready to play from the tip. Tonight we came out with energy that we believed we could play with (and) the defense that we’re supposed to play, too.”

18. Bottom line: Another successful run for the Cavs, who finished this road swing by winning three of four. So much for them “only beating mediocre teams,” as some have claimed. And guess what? Everyone plays “mediocre” opponents during a 10-game stretch. Not many teams win nine of them like the Cavs have.

19. Antetokounmpo and Lillard each scored 22 to pace the Bucks, who were again led by interim coach Joe Prunty, a former Cavs assistant. Doc Rivers is expected to take the coaching reigns for the Bucks on Monday.

20. Next up: The Cavs get to face the new-look and title-contending Clippers of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden (and old friend Tyronn Lue) on Monday in Cleveland. Another big test, but nothing these Cavs can’t overcome, right?

That right there may have been best win of season for Cavs.

I’ll have more later https://t.co/07DB6szupr

— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) January 27, 2024