Evan Mobley scored 27 points and grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds, and James Harden had 27 points and six assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers took control in the final seven minutes to beat the host Milwaukee Bucks 123-116 on Tuesday night.
Cleveland scored eight straight points in a 70-second span midway through the final period to seize a 108-100 lead, then powered home for its 11th win in 15 games with Harden in the lineup. Sam Merrill and Keon Ellis each made 3-pointers during the surge.
Donovan Mitchell added 19 points and Merrill scored 17 for the Cavaliers (42-27), who are fourth in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland has split its last 12 games to drop 2 1/2 games behind the third-place New York Knicks.
Kevin Porter Jr. had 25 points and 10 assists, and Ousmane Dieng and Ryan Rollins scored 19 points apiece for Milwaukee (28-40). Bobby Portis Jr. chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds off the bench as the Bucks fell to 2-9 since Feb. 27.
Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was inactive after hyperextending his left knee and receiving a bone bruise Sunday against the Indiana Pacers. The injury occurred as he landed after a spinning dunk, forcing him to miss his 32nd game this season.
There were six lead changes in the third, the final one on a Portis jumper with 1:54 remaining that put the Bucks ahead 80-79. They held onto an 87-85 lead after 36 minutes.
Milwaukee finished with 20 makes beyond the arc, a career-high tying five by Dieng.
The Cavaliers built a 15-point lead early in the second quarter before Milwaukee rallied for a 58-57 advantage at the half. Portis buried three of the Bucks’ eight threes in the second and had 11 points and six rebounds at the break.
Harden scored 19 on 6-of-7 field goal attempts and Mobley had 14 points and nine rebounds in the first half. They matched Milwaukee’s team total of 24 points in the opening quarter, when Cleveland scored 37.
Cleveland made 27 (of 34) free throws in the game, while Milwaukee only converted 12 of 17.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (right knee tendonitis) has not played since March 3 against the East-leading Detroit Pistons. Backup point guards Craig Porter Jr. (left groin strain) and Tyrese Proctor (right quadriceps strain) also were out.
Center Myles Turner (right calf strain) was a game-day scratch for Milwaukee.
Cleveland won both of its home games in the season series and won three of four overall.
–Field Level Media
