Cavaliers Vs Bucks: Short‑Handed Cavs Fall 118-116 as Late Putback Is Waved Off

The immediate casualty was Cleveland’s depth: missing multiple rotation pieces, the Cavs saw their margin for error evaporate in a one-possession loss. In the cavaliers vs bucks meeting on Feb. 25, 2026, Milwaukee eked out a 118-116 win and moved to five victories in six games while Cleveland dropped to fourth in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind New York.

Cavaliers Vs Bucks — who felt it first: the roster strain and standings effect

Cleveland arrived short-handed. James Harden was out after breaking his right thumb Tuesday night in a home victory over New York. Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley also sat out, with Mitchell nursing a strained right groin. That shrinkage in personnel left the Cavs thinner when the game tightened late, and the loss marked their second defeat in 10 games, nudging them down to fourth place in the East, a half-game behind New York.

Game mechanics and the decisive sequence

MILWAUKEE — The Bucks held off the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116 on Wednesday night. Kevin Porter Jr. led Milwaukee scoring with 20 points and Ryan Rollins added 18 as the Bucks recorded their fifth victory in six games. Jarrett Allen had 27 points and 11 rebounds and appeared to tie it with a putback at the buzzer, but officials ruled that time had expired.

Key closing possessions: Jaylon Tyson pulled Cleveland within 116-114 with two free throws. After Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma missed a 3-pointer, Dennis Schroder scored from the right side of the lane to tie it 116 with 35. 6 seconds left. Porter then hit a free-throw line jumper to put the Bucks up 118-116 with 20. 2 seconds remaining. Schroder, who was acquired from Sacramento on Feb. 1, finished with 26 points — his most in nine games with Cleveland. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th consecutive game for the Bucks because of a strained right calf.

Small set of decisive numbers and implications

• Milwaukee scorers: Kevin Porter Jr. 20, Ryan Rollins 18 — contributions that helped the Bucks close out a narrow game.
• Jarrett Allen: 27 points, 11 rebounds; his buzzer putback was ruled after time expired, denying Cleveland a tie.
• Dennis Schroder: 26 points, his biggest output in nine games with Cleveland after being acquired on Feb. 1.
• Milwaukee without Giannis for a 13th straight contest; Cleveland without Harden, Mitchell and Mobley, the first two because of a broken right thumb (Harden) and a strained right groin (Mitchell).
• Cleveland’s loss moved them into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind New York; Milwaukee notched its fifth win in six games.

The real question now is whether Cleveland’s depleted lineup will recover enough rotation stability before upcoming matchups. It’s easy to overlook, but Allen’s numbers underline that the Cavs still have interior firepower even when the backcourt is limited.

Micro timeline and immediate signals

• Feb. 1 — Dennis Schroder was acquired from Sacramento.
• Tuesday night (unclear in the provided context) — James Harden broke his right thumb in a home victory over New York.
• Feb. 25, 2026 — In Milwaukee the Bucks beat the Cavaliers 118-116; Jarrett Allen’s buzzer putback was ruled after time expired.

One forward-looking signal: if Harden’s recovery and Mitchell/Mobley’s availability return quickly, Cleveland’s standing could stabilize; if absences persist, the team’s margin for late-game error will remain thin.

What's easy to miss is how much the late sequence — a missed Kuzma 3, Schroder’s tying drive at 35. 6 seconds and Porter’s go-ahead jumper with 20. 2 left — compressed the game into a handful of decisive plays rather than a prolonged comeback attempt.

Separately, a website notice unrelated to the contest stated that the site was built to use the latest web technology to improve speed and ease of use and warned that "your browser is not supported, " recommending that readers download an updated browser for the best experience.