Milwaukee Bucks (26-31) beat Cleveland Cavaliers (37-23) 118-116 at home on Wednesday, February 25. The Cavaliers led after three quarters, but the Bucks took control in the fourth.
The game, quarter by quarter
The teams matched each other with 33 points apiece in the first quarter, leaving it level at 33. The Cavaliers moved in front with a 30-29 second quarter, carrying a 1-point lead into halftime.
The teams matched each other with 31 points apiece in the third quarter, so the Cavaliers remained ahead by 1 entering the fourth. The Bucks took the fourth 25-22; the Bucks completed the comeback for a 118-116 regulation win.
What decided it
The Bucks got more from their shots, finishing at 65.3% effective field-goal shooting compared with 55.2% for the Cavaliers. In a 2-point game, that shooting gap supplied the clearest edge.
The Cavaliers did win one battle, the free-throw line: FT rate of 23 against 3.4. The Bucks made up for it elsewhere.
At roughly 95 possessions per team, the Bucks produced 124.8 points per 100 possessions to 122.7 for the Cavaliers.
The Bucks' reserves also made a difference, outscoring the opposing bench 37-21.
Who made the difference
Jarrett Allen was the game's biggest individual force for CLE: 27 pts, 11 reb, 1 ast on 10-15 shooting. His Game Score of 28.2 led everyone. His team was -10 with him on the floor.
Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 20 pts, 8 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl on 10-16 shooting, good for a 21 Game Score.
Jericho Sims (11 pts, 11 reb, 2 ast), Jaylon Tyson (14 pts, 10 reb, 3 ast), and Jarrett Allen (27 pts, 11 reb, 1 ast) each recorded a double-double.
What it means
The pre-game Win Meter had it close to a coin flip, at about 39% for the Bucks.
Across the last 6 meetings in our records, Cleveland Cavaliers lead 6-0.
The Bucks are now 26-31, and the Cavaliers are 37-23. The Bucks last five before this game: W-W-W-L-W.
Written automatically by Tip Off Live software from box score data. Ratings and probabilities are our own model estimates.