Jarrett Allen continues roll, but short-handed Cavs fall a fraction short

The Cavaliers didn’t fold. They just ran out of gas.

Shorthanded and on the second night of a back-to-back, Cleveland had a chance to steal one in Milwaukee before falling 118–116 to the Bucks.

The ending was cruel. Dennis Schroder’s runner rattled out in the final seconds, Jarrett Allen grabbed the miss, and his putback hook came a fraction too late.

Game over. Just barely.

This one was less about who starred and more about who was missing. The Cavs were without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley.

Milwaukee countered with its own absences, sitting Giannis Antetokounmpo and Taurean Prince. What followed was a choppy, improvised game where roles blurred and momentum swung mostly because someone had to shoot.

Allen didn’t blink.

If there was any doubt about who should be the focal point when the Cavs are undermanned, this should settle it.

Allen was dominant. He bullied his way to 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, pulled down 11 rebounds, and consistently moved Myles Turner off his spots. The Cavs needed him to be great. He was.

It still wasn’t enough.

Cleveland jumped out early, then watched Milwaukee flip the script behind hot three-point shooting.

The Bucks pushed their lead to 12 midway through the third before the Cavs clawed back, closing the quarter strong to take a one-point edge into the fourth.

The final 12 minutes were a grind. No separation. Just possessions.

Milwaukee finally nudged ahead on a midrange jumper from Kevin Porter Jr. with 20 seconds left. The Cavs got the look they wanted. It just didn’t fall in time.

Porter led the Bucks (26-31) with 20 points, with Ryan Rollins adding 18 and Kyle Kuzma chipping in 17, including five threes. Milwaukee shot 42.2 percent from deep, continuing a theme that’s hurt Cleveland lately. The Cavs have protected the paint well, but the perimeter balance still needs tightening.

Schroder was outstanding in his expanded role. He finished with 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting, added five assists, and played through a turned ankle late. Keon Ellis, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson each scored 14.

The Cavs (37-23) have now dropped two of three, but context matters. Three core pieces out. Fifth game in seven nights. Road back-to-back.

This wasn’t a collapse. It was a fight that came down to inches.

BOX SCORE | Bucks 118, Cavs 116