Great teams have the ability to fight and win games no matter how long the odds are. These teams can show the grit and tenacity necessary to sustain a hot streak and lead a team through a season and into the playoffs. It’s the kind of grit that was shown in 2016 when a Cavaliers team down 3-1 against the best regular-season team of all time came back to win the city’s first championship in a generation. It’s the kind of win that this red-hot Cavaliers team was able to pull off tonight. In this statement win, capped off by a go-ahead circus shot by Donovan Mitchell to put the Cavs up one with 0.3 seconds remaining.
Let’s take a look at how the team got to this position.
Despite the excitement of the late game, it appeared the Cavaliers’ undefeated run was doomed to end early. The Bucks opened up with a blazing pace to the tune of a 9-0 deficit for the fans in the first 90 seconds of regulation. Looking to make a statement of his own after a four-point outing in his last game, Damian Lillard roared forth with an offensive effort, scoring early and often for the Bucks. Milwaukee’s fast pace seemed to surprise a usually sound Cavaliers defense leading to open shots that the Bucks continued to capitalize on eventually opening the deficit to 16 points with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.
It was at this point that the Cavaliers were able to show the make up of their team and truly begin their comeback. With a defensive-focused lineup in the game, the Cavs were able to alter the pace and force Milwaukee to take unfavorable shots with players other than Lillard and Antetokounmpo, from here the offense was able to take control eventually leading to a 13-0 run which saw the game tied with just under four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Towards the end of the first half, the Cavs were even able to open a six-point lead over the Bucks, though a reignition of Milwaukee’s offense by their two stars saw the Cavs down 62-61 at the half.
After the half, the game was a mostly back and forth affair as the teams exchanged leads and tied the game a number of times. The strategy for the Bucks appeared to be to funnel their offense through Giannis and Lillard who accounted for 75 of Milwaukee’s eventual 113 points. Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson seemed willing to allow this however, as the strategy appeared to be to halt the Bucks’ role players and bench from making a greater impact on the game. Isaac Okoro, known for his defensive ability, delivered another solid performance as he led the team’s defensive effort while also delivering 13 points on 4-5 shooting. As the game flowed through the second half the Cavaliers were able to capitalize on a defensive breakdown by Milwaukee leading to six players finishing with double-digit point totals, propelling the offense and demonstrating the schematic capabilities of Kenny Atkinson.
As the game entered its final 15 seconds, Milwaukee found itself with its possession of the ball trailing by one. Calling a timeout the Bucks inbounded the ball at half-court to their hottest hand, Damian Lillard and he delivered once again sinking a 15-foot step-back jumper to put them up one with 9.1 seconds remaining. With an energized Milwaukee crowd, it appeared like the Cavaliers’ magical run may have finally met its match as they called a timeout to draw up a final play from halfcourt. Despite their scheming from the inbound, the play was broken as Donovan Mitchell struggled to receive the pass before driving and struggling to maintain control of the ball. With time fading on the clock, Mitchell took a 19-foot pull-up jumper. In big moments against star-studded matchups, teams need their best players to deliver and with 0.3 seconds left on the clock Mitchell’s shot found the bottom of the net to give the Cavaliers the lead. So, with one final desperate miss by Lillard, the Cavs move to 7-0 on the season with a repeat matchup at home against the Bucks on Monday and another chance to extend their unbeaten streak.
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