Cavaliers defeat Bucks with three-point barrage for 24th win of season

On By Littum

On Friday night, the Cleveland Cavaliers welcomed the newly crowned NBA Cup championn Milwaukee Bucks to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to begin a three-game homestand.

Cleveland won its first two matchups against Milwaukee this season by a combined three points. And the third competition produced the same result, but with a very different result.

The Cavaliers shot 20-for-47 (42.6%) from three-point range and cruised to a 124-101 victory over the Bucks.

According to Cavs Notes on X, the Wine and Gold are now tied for their best 28-game start in franchise history with this latest win, joining the 2008-09 squad at 24-4.

Donovan Mitchell was the star of the show, scoring a team-high 27 points in just 27 minutes of action. He shot an efficient 9-for-15 (60%) from the field and 3-for-7 (42.9%) from long range. The five-time reigning All-Star also dished out a game-high six assists, tied a team-high with two steals, and tied a game-high with a +21 plus/minus.

A basketball player with his right arm raised in the air wearing a white uniform.

December 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after hitting a three-point basket in the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cavaliers also welcomed back a key starter from last season’s team that advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

After missing Cleveland’s first 27 games of the campaign, Max Strus made his highly anticipated season debut. The swingman played 19 minutes off the bench, marking his first bench appearance as a Cavalier. He scored nine points on 3-for-8 (37.5%) shooting, all of which came from beyond the arc, and tallied two assists.

As a team, the Wine and Gold shot 50.5% from the field, with six players scoring in double figures. The team also recorded 30 assists, reaching the 30-assist mark for the 11th time this season.

Next, Wine and Gold will host Philadelphia 76ers Saturday, December 21 at 8 p.m