Mitchell scores 32 as Cavs beat Bucks 112-100 for 9th win in last 10 games
Associated PressMILWAUKEE — Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff considered two road matchups with the Milwaukee Bucks in a span of three nights an opportunity to prepare his team for the postseason. Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, Jarrett Allen had 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Bucks 112-100 on Friday night for their ninth win in their last 10 games. How we studied, how we prepared, what we did yesterday, what happened at shootaround, we wanted to use it as kind of a dry run for us, so to speak, for what a playoff game would look like.” Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to end his string of two straight triple-doubles. Milwaukee led 57-54 at halftime and extended the advantage to 63-57 on Khris Middleton’s follow shot with 10:51 left in the third, but the Bucks wouldn’t make another basket for nearly nine minutes. Milwaukee’s only points during that stretch came on two free throws by Lillard that gave the Bucks a 65-60 edge with 8 1/2 minutes remaining in the third.