TITLE: Cavaliers hold off Bucks 118-106 as Kenny Atkinson calls performance “clunky”
SLUG: cavaliers-hold-off-bucks-atkinson-clunky
CONTENT:
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up a 118-106 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, but head coach Kenny Atkinson said the effort was far from smooth.
“I’m glad we pulled it out. It’s not smooth sailing right now. We’re still a little bit clunky on both sides of the ball,” Atkinson told reporters after the game. Cleveland improved to 10-5, while Milwaukee fell to 8-7.
Giannis exits at halftime
The contest tilted when Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo left at halftime with a left groin strain. The Cavaliers led 59-57 at the break; Milwaukee stayed close for a stretch, but the absence of its two-time MVP eventually proved decisive.
Mitchell scores 37
Guard Donovan Mitchell led all scorers with 37 points, shooting 14-for-22 from the field and 4-for-8 from long range. He also handed out a team-high seven assists, providing Cleveland with consistent offense in the absence of injured point guard Darius Garland.
Key contributions
- Sam Merrill added 20 points and hit 6-of-9 three-pointers despite appearing to jam a finger early in the game.
- Evan Mobley posted 14 points and six rebounds, while Jarrett Allen finished with 12 points and six boards.
- DeAndre Hunter and rookie Craig Porter Jr. scored 11 apiece; Porter went 5-for-6 from the floor and punctuated his night with a driving slam.
Atkinson praised Porter’s offseason work, saying the guard “made a commitment to getting in elite shape” that is now paying dividends.
Bucks’ offensive leaders
Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins continued his strong start to the season with 24 points, and Myles Turner supplied 15. Without Antetokounmpo, however, the Bucks could not keep pace.
Coach wants higher standards
“Our talent level is still such that we can eke out wins,” Atkinson said. “But we have to be better collectively. We’ve got to raise our standards.”
The Cavaliers will be back on the floor Wednesday when Kevin Durant and the surging Houston Rockets visit Cleveland.
Source: Hoops Wire
