Cavaliers Vs Bucks: Bucks Survive Buzzer Scare, 118-116
Milwaukee held off a short-handed Cleveland team 118-116 on Wednesday night in Milwaukee, a result that kept the Bucks on a five-win stretch in six games and left the Cavaliers reeling from multiple absences. The late-game sequence — including a Jarrett Allen attempt waved off as time expired — decided a tightly contested matchup.
Final sequence and Jarrett Allen ruling
The game ended on a dramatic note when Jarrett Allen put the ball in the basket underneath at the buzzer but officials ruled that time had expired before the basket counted. Allen finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. Earlier, Jaylon Tyson had pulled Cleveland within 116-114 with two free throws, and after Kyle Kuzma missed a 3-pointer, Dennis Schroder scored from the right side of the lane to tie the game at 116 with 35. 6 seconds remaining.
Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins fuel Milwaukee
Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 20 points while Ryan Rollins added 18 in support. Porter also delivered a go-ahead free-throw line jumper that pushed Milwaukee in front 118-116 with 20. 2 seconds left. The result was Milwaukee’s fifth victory in six games.
Dennis Schroder’s night and acquisition context
Dennis Schroder scored 26 points, his most in nine games with Cleveland since being acquired from Sacramento on Feb. 1. Schroder’s scoring late in the game kept the Cavaliers within striking distance despite the team’s depleted rotation.
Cleveland injuries: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley
Cleveland played short-handed after James Harden broke his right thumb Tuesday night in a home victory over New York and did not suit up. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley also sat out, with Mitchell nursing a strained right groin; the context does not specify a reason for Mobley’s absence. Those absences forced Cleveland into a shortened rotation and were a clear factor in the team’s inability to close out the game in the final seconds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo remains sidelined with calf strain
Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th consecutive game for the Bucks because of a strained right calf, leaving Milwaukee to rely on role players and recent contributors to maintain its form. The sustained absence placed additional offensive responsibility on players such as Porter and Rollins and helped shape the late-game lineup decisions.
Standings impact and team trends
The loss was Cleveland’s second in 10 games and dropped the Cavaliers into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind New York. The narrow margin underscored the Cavs’ resilience despite injuries; what makes this notable is how the shortened Cleveland roster still forced a final-possession controversy, highlighting their depth issues and Milwaukee’s ability to win under pressure.
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The Bucks’ narrow victory, built on contributions from Porter, Rollins and Schroder’s late push for Cleveland, left the teams separated by two points on the scoreboard and set up a close look at Cleveland’s health as it heads into upcoming games. The timing matters because the Cavs’ immediate standing in the conference was affected — dropping to fourth by a half-game — and Milwaukee’s recent stretch of wins continued without its usual star available.
