CLEVELAND: The defense is still an issue, but the ball movement seems to be returning for the Cavaliers.
Kevin Love returned to the lineup with 24 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104 Wednesday night. LeBron James had 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds and Kyrie Irving had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists on his 24th birthday for the Cavs, who have won four of their last five.
One game after recording a season-high 38 assists, the Cavs followed it up with 29 more Wednesday. Why the ball movement seems to vanish and reappear sporadically throughout the season remains a mystery.
“When we play with pace and play that way, drive and kick and make the swing-swing pass, you saw that a lot tonight and a lot of our big plays came from that,” Love said. “I think we play better that way.”
Tristan Thompson grabbed three offensive rebounds on one key possession late in the fourth quarter, corralling rebounds after a missed dunk by James and two missed 3-pointers. Thompson finally tapped it in himself after the third rebound, giving the Cavs a 106-98 lead with 2:43 left.
J.R. Smith’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left extended the lead to 111-102, sealing the victory.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Bucks and Greg Monroe had 14 points. Khris Middleton had 11 assists, but the Bucks have lost three straight and four of their last five.
Love missed one game with a head-and-chest cold that bothered him for a week and broke out of a shooting funk that has plagued him since the All-Star break. He began the night shooting 39 percent, including 25 percent from the 3-point line. He shot 8-of-14 Wednesday, although all six of his misses were 3-pointers. He ended the night 4-of-10 from 3-point range.
Coach Tyronn Lue thought the Cavs took advantage of the Bucks’ defensive switches, which left the Bucks’ point guards defending love.
“I thought we moved the ball very well,” Lue said. “Kevin got some shots off and we continued to move the ball. When we continue to do that, we’re tough to beat.”
The Cavs have simplified their defense in recent days, but the Bucks cut right through it to shoot 54 percent. They scored 87 points entering the fourth, but went scoreless for nearly the first four minutes as the Cavs turned a four-point lead into a 10-point lead before the Bucks could score.
The Cavs will play the second night of a back-to-back Thursday at Brooklyn, although Lue didn’t rule out resting players against the Nets.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.