Rapid Recap: Bucks 119, Cavaliers 124

The Bucks and Cavs have not been the most inspiring duo over the last two weeks, and only one was going to right the course tonight in Cleveland. And while neither solved any of their defensive problems, it was the Cavaliers that found a few more bullets in the chamber, sending the Bucks to their fourth straight loss, 124-119 at Quicken Loans Arena.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was his usual self, blocking a Lebron layup attempt in the first and knocking down five straight buckets to end the second, including this completely normal and standard slam to tie it...

It was yet another night where Giannis was dynamic with 40 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, but the rest were spotty. Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon and even Mirza Teletovic had their moments, but on the offensive end only. The Bucks, yet again, sprung leaks on the defensive end, especially down low. Kevin Love was a monster with 32 points and 16 rebounds (eight offensively). JR Smith, whose struggles of late have coincided with Cleveland’s, righted the ship with 20 points. And if Lebron James was capable of a quiet 30 points, he accomplished that this evening..

STAT THAT STOOD OUT

Stop me if you’ve heard this one... the Bucks were outpaced severely in the foul department tonight. The tone was set immediately, with the Bucks entering the penalty just two-and-a-half minutes into the game. Milwaukee’s two centers, John Henson and Thon Maker, racked up foul trouble from the tip. And it was a twelve second spurt midway through the third quarter that saw the Bucks pick up three fouls, and the Cavaliers never relinquished the lead from that moment forward. The Bucks nearly doubled the Cavs in personal fouls (31-16), and shot 22 fewer free throws.