Cavaliers Vs Bucks: Short-Handed Cavs Fall 118-116 as Schroder, Bench Spark Late Rally
In the cavaliers vs bucks matchup on Feb 25, 2026 the Milwaukee Bucks edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116, a result that underscored how close a depleted Cleveland team came to stealing a road win without three of its starters. The narrow final score and a late sequence that included a waved-off Jarrett Allen putback made this one a razor-tight drama.
Cavaliers Vs Bucks: Bench energy fuels comeback but falls short
The game was defined by an unusual model: Cleveland was short-handed, missing three starters — Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Evan Mobley — yet its second unit refused to be a B-Squad. The Cavaliers lumped all of the night’s winners into one category, celebrating the intensity and hunger displayed by reserve players who stepped up in the absence of the regulars.
Schroder’s first start and the ankle that didn’t stop him
Dennis Schroder earned his first start as a Cavalier and delivered a major showing, finishing with 26 points and 5 assists. Schroder’s constant attacks as a ball-handler and point-of-attack deterrent helped break through and even put Cleveland in front at times. After rolling his ankle, he kept playing hard and converted a game-tying floater with under 40 seconds to play.
Bench breakout: Keon Ellis, Craig Porter Jr. and Thomas Bryant
Keon Ellis and Craig Porter Jr. joined Schroder to form a chaotic, aggressive trio that changed momentum. Porter’s downhill drives in the third quarter helped the Cavs regain a groove when they had been struggling to break Milwaukee’s shell; Porter attacked open space and made a play that involved dishing to Jarrett Allen to re-establish Cleveland’s presence in the paint. Ellis combined frenetic defensive energy with efficient shooting, going 4-of-8 from three and quickly becoming a fan favorite. Thomas Bryant provided a reliable plug-and-play option in the frontcourt when called upon.
Bucks’ three-point plan: Green, Kuzma and the barrage
Milwaukee’s clear blueprint was to hunt three-pointers. AJ Green finished 5-of-10 from deep, and Kyle Kuzma also converted 5-of-10 attempts from long range; Kuzma’s season three-point percentage is listed as 32. 5% in the provided context. The Bucks nailed 19 of 45 three-point attempts (42. 2%), a volume and efficiency combination that forced Cleveland into a shootout despite its depleted lineup.
Defensive breakdowns and the sequence that decided the game
The Cavs’ trouble began with poor defense at the point of attack. When a ball-handler turned past a defender, the rest of Cleveland’s defense was put in a bind, allowing Milwaukee to drive and kick far too easily. Those breakdowns turned contested looks into high-value perimeter shots, and once the Cavs showed they were not rotating and recovering with proficiency, the long-range attempts stopped feeling like last resorts.
Late-game drama: Schroder’s floater and Allen’s waved-off putback
Despite the three-point onslaught, Cleveland clawed back late. Schroder’s floater tied the game with under 40 seconds left. The game narrative also included Jarrett Allen’s game-tying putback being waved off, a decisive moment in a two-point loss. Somehow the short-handed Cavs still did enough to nearly steal the game, but the defensive lapses ultimately cost them a win that a better showing on that end would have secured.
Takeaways and the unfinished thought
This was described as a hard-fought loss rather than a collapse: a roster with plug-and-play pieces and a hungry second unit pushed a full-strength game into a one-possession finish. The Cavaliers believe there’s another gear they can [unclear in the provided context].
