Cleveland Cavaliers Knock Off Milwaukee Bucks As Giannis Antetokounmpo Leaves Early

In a night that started with the familiar dread of a Bucks blowout, the Cleveland Cavaliers flipped the script, turning a potential rout into a gritty 118-106 victory. But let’s be honest, this win comes with a giant, Greek Freak-sized asterisk.

Giannis Injury Halts Bucks’ Momentum

The game took a dramatic turn late in the second quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was already putting up MVP numbers (14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists in just 13 minutes), drove to the basket for a layup. He missed, landed awkwardly, and immediately winced in pain. After a quick foul on the other end, he limped straight to the locker room, not to return. The official word? A left groin strain. For the Bucks, it was a gut punch. For the Cavaliers, it was an unexpected, and slightly awkward, open door.

Donovan Mitchell Leads the Cavaliers’ Charge

With Giannis out, the stage was set for Donovan Mitchell, and boy, did he deliver. “Spida” went into attack mode, torching the Bucks for a blistering 37 points on 14-of-22 shooting. He was a man on a mission, slicing through the paint and orchestrating the offense with seven assists. It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why he’s the leader of this Cavaliers squad.

But it wasn’t just a one-man show. Sam Merrill, stepping up big time, drained six three-pointers on his way to 20 points, providing the outside shooting that kept the Bucks’ defense honest. Evan Mobley added a solid 14 points, 6 boards, and 6 assists, doing a little bit of everything.

An Unlikely Hero Sparks the Cavaliers

Before Giannis’s injury, the Cavaliers were getting absolutely manhandled. The Bucks jumped out to a 12-2 lead and looked like they were ready to run Cleveland right out of their own building. The energy was flat, and the team needed a jolt.

Enter Thomas Bryant. He immediately brought the chaos, hustling for every rebound and, in one particularly memorable moment, pushing a defender into the third row on a Mitchell drive. He earned a technical foul, but who cares? He lit a fire under a team that desperately needed it. That single play seemed to galvanize the Cavaliers, shifting the momentum long before Giannis went down.

This win brings the Cavaliers to a respectable 10-5 record. While it’s tough to celebrate a victory that was so heavily influenced by an opponent’s injury, a win is a win in the NBA. It was a tale of two halves: one where they were getting bullied, and another where they seized an opportunity and played with heart. Now, they just need to bottle that second-half energy and bring it for a full 48 minutes.