"We didn't let them off the hook. We were attacking," said Giannis Antetokounmpo, who tied a career high with 34 points while the Bucks stunned the Cavaliers 118-101 on Tuesday night. "They are the champs, but this is a great win."
Bucks coach Jason Kidd had high praise for Antetokounmpo, who was often matched up against James. "He's getting better with hard work," Kidd said. "He was going against the best player in the world."
Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocks while Milwaukee ended Cleveland's four-game winning streak. Jabari Parker had 18 points and Michael Beasley had 17 off the bench for the Bucks. "It was a matter of us trusting each other," Kidd said. "For a young team, sometimes it takes time. You want to put it in the microwave and instantly get it right away, but if you're patient enough for the process and the journey, it will come."
James had 22 points for the Cavaliers, who fell to 13-3. Kyrie Irving added 20 points. "You can't simulate how long they are in the passing lanes," James said. "But four of my seven (turnovers) were unforced and that's careless." The Bucks scored a season-high 68 points in the paint.
"They played harder than we did," Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. The Bucks outscored Cleveland by 14 points in the third quarter and led by 22 in the fourth. Cleveland rode hot early shooting to a 14-point first quarter lead, but Milwaukee closed on a 10-0 run and trailed by only two at the end of the period.
Antetokounmpo and Beasley sparked Milwaukee in the second quarter as the Bucks built an advantage of eight points before leading 58-54 at the half.
Source: ESPN (with edits)
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