David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks fell apart Wednesday without injured superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, falling behind 22-2 to start before losing 135-95 to the host Cleveland Cavaliers.
This loss was about as bad as a defeat gets.
The Cavs led by as many as 47 points in the wire-to-wire victory. The Bucks trailed by double digits for the entirety of the final three quarters. Everyone in the Cavs’ starting lineup finished plus-33 or better. Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points in just 26 minutes. Jarrett Allen crushed the Bucks in the paint with a 21-point, 13-rebound evening.
Georges Niang also had the game of his life of the bench, scoring 33 points on 13-of-14 shooting. At halftime, he was outscoring the Bucks’ entire starting unit.
StatMuse @statmuse
At half:
Niang — Bucks starters —
20 PTS 19 PTS
4 3P 2 3P
Niang is shooting 100% https://t.co/Rq97u7p1fX
For the Bucks, superstar guard Damian Lillard had a night to forget, shooting just 7-of-20 en route to 17 points as Isaac Okoro shut him down.
Chris Fedor @ChrisFedor
#Cavs Isaac Okoro has had Damian Lillard in a torture chamber tonight. Lillard scored 10 points on 4 of 14 shooting in the first half. He spent extra time talking to the officials about a number of no-calls before walking off the floor and going to the locker room at the break.
Khris Middleton had one of his worst career games, scoring two points on 1-of-10 shooting. Malik Beasley also scored just two points. Cleveland outscored Milwaukee 74-42 in the paint and 33-8 on the fast break.
Simply put, it was a terrible showing for a team that laid an egg. Granted, the Bucks didn’t have Antetokounmpo, but the Cavs are playing without stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. That hasn’t stopped them from winning six straight.
During and after the game, fans and analysts called out Lillard and the Bucks for a rough night.
ProCy ☘️ @ImNotProCy
“Dame Giannis is out we need you to show up!”
Damian Lillard: pic.twitter.com/3rUsEE7Ccv
¹⁰ @HoodiGarland
Let’s start a narrative.
Darius Garland has surpassed Damian Lillard. pic.twitter.com/JCE5yAFSeL
Gery Woelfel @GeryWoelfel
The Bucks are without Antetokounmpo tonight against the Cavs.
But the Bucks still have Lillard, Middleton, Lopez and Portis and they’re still getting annihilated.
The NBA regular season … where every game doesn’t matter.
Hoodie D @zankodakid
“Let Damian Lillard be the first option” pic.twitter.com/7b1RJUQJQM
abdullah @pregamedullah
let damian lillard lead a team pic.twitter.com/6Biu3HOj1m
Cavs Brasil @CavsbrasilB
Donovan Mitchell Vs Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/vmsq9USmHD
Camarada Wood @camarada_wood
Damian Lillard in Milwaukee Bucks: pic.twitter.com/UUG1mWJprv
☼ @phillymikann
“damian lillard, his shooting about as cold as it is outside rn”
damian lillard: 12% from field
cleveland temp: 24 degress F
maybe it’s even colder
sydney fink @sydn3yfink
bucks lose 135-95 to the cleveland cavaliers without giannis antetokounmpo pic.twitter.com/n95EOBJn07
☘️CelticsWRLD☘️ @CelticsWRLD17
but i’m told the bucks defense won’t matter in the playoffs 😭😭 https://t.co/yxr7uvSvUV
Mark Michalski @mark_michalski
The Bucks get dismantled by the Cavaliers tonight losing this game badly 135-95 their worst loss of the season without Giannis. A terrible game by the Bucks on ESPN tonight. #NBA #FearTheDeer
Andrew Zelman @AndrewZelman
The Cavaliers are playing their best basketball of the season… by far.
The Bucks on the other hand look awful.
Of course, both Lillard and the Bucks are better of far capable play. The seven-time All-NBA guard entered Wednesday averaging 25.2 points and 6.8 assists. Milwaukee is also averaging the second-most points per game in the league, and the team still sits second in the East at 28-13.
However, Wednesday was simply brutal. The Bucks’ only silver lining is that they have two road games up next against the 4-37 Detroit Pistons on Saturday and Monday. They’ll then look for revenge against the Cavs in a pair of home games next Wednesday and Friday.
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