Donovan Mitchell buried a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining as the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their unbeaten run with a 114-113 win over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night.
Mitchell had 30 points for the Cavaliers, who recorded their seventh successive victory, their best start to a season since Bill Fitch coached them to a franchise-record 8-0 start in 1976-77.
Sam Merrill contributed 17 points off the bench, including five 3-pointers, Jarrett Allen had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Evan Mobley had 14 points and seven boards and Darius Garland finished with 11 points and 10 assists.
Damian Lillard notched 41 points — including 10 3-pointers — and nine assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo piled on 34 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists and Taurean Prince scored 16 for the Bucks.
Inside the frenetic final minute of the fourth, with the Cavs up by one, Mitchell missed a pair of runners, Antetokounmpo failed to convert a layup and Brook Lopez blocked Allen’s dunk attempt.
Lillard nailed a step-back jumper with 9.8 seconds left to put Milwaukee in front before Mitchell replied with the game-winner.
Lillard, who was held to a career-low-tying four points on 1-of-12 shooting vs. Memphis on Thursday, bounced back with two treys in the first 90 seconds and finished the opening quarter with 18 points, including 5 of 8 from beyond the arc.
The Bucks had jumped ahead 9-0, led by as many as 16 points and buried 8 of 15 3-pointers to lead 38-30 after one quarter.
Mitchell piloted a 13-0 second-quarter burst to help the Cavaliers get their first lead before Milwaukee moved back in front at the half when Antetokounmpo’s no-look, behind-the-back bounce pass found Lillard for his seventh triple.
The lead changed hands 11 times in the third period, at the end of which Cleveland led 87-84, before further momentum swings continued to shape the contest in the pulsating fourth.
–Field Level Media
