MILWAUKEE. – The Milwaukee Bucks continued their franchise-best start and pulled within two games of matching their all-time longest winning streak on Saturday, routing the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 125-108.
Milwaukee faced little resistance from a struggling Cleveland bunch. The Bucks jumped to an 18-point halftime lead and expanded the gap to as many as 28 points in the third quarter on the way to their 18th straight win.
The Bucks’ 24-3 start is the best in the 52-year history of the organization. To match the 20-game winning streak of the Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar-led 1970-71 Bucks, this 2019-20 squad will have to beat two of the hottest teams in the Western Conference, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers, next week.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points, and Khris Middleton added 24 points, leading six Bucks scoring in double-figures. Sputtering Cleveland dropped its 15th game over the last 17. Kevin Porter Jr. led the Cavaliers scoring 15 points off the bench. Jordan Clarkson added 13 points also in a reserve role.
In other games, it was Miami 122, Dallas 118 in OT; Chicago 109, LA Clippers 106; Denver 110, Oklahoma City 102; Toronto 110, Brooklyn 102; Detroit 115, Houston 107; San Antonio 121, Phoenix 119 in OT; and Memphis 128; Washington 111.
Heat 122, Mavericks 118 (OT)
Jimmy Butler scored 27 points as Miami defeated host Dallas in a game that saw Luka Doncic sprain his right ankle early in the first quarter.
Tyler Herro finished with 19 points and Bam Adebayo collected a triple-double with 18 points, 11 boards and 10 assists for the Heat, who rebounded after dropping a 113-110 decision to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. made six 3-pointers to highlight his 28-point performance and Kristaps Porzingis had 22 points and 14 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have lost two of three after winning 10 of their previous 11. X-rays were negative for Doncic, who did not return to the game after stepping on the foot of Miami guard Kendrick Nunn while driving to the basket.
Bulls 109, Clippers 106
Zach LaVine made a go-ahead layup with 2.0 seconds remaining and sank a free throw to complete a three-point play, and Chicago emerged with a win over visiting Los Angeles.
LaVine finished with 31 points on 11-for-21 shooting, including 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Thaddeus Young finished with 17 points, Denzel Valentine had 16, and Lauri Markkanen notched 13 points and 17 rebounds for the Bulls.
Montrezl Harrell scored 30 points to lead the Clippers, whose four-game winning streak was snapped. Paul George added 27 points in 31 minutes but missed a shot at the buzzer that could have forced overtime. — Reuters