Cavs ran dry against the Bucks for second consecutive loss

Cavs streak snapped at four games

The Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a second-straight loss after going cold late against the Milwaukee Bucks on the road. Figuring in the tail end of a back-to-back against another tough playoff contender, the Cavs simply ran dry to lose, 112-104.

Trailing by just six after the first two quarters, Cleveland was once again playing catchup in the second half but continued to display the mettle to will themselves back into the game with several impressive rallies.

A 9-0 spree brought the Cavs to within one point early in the fourth, with several other chances to go ahead, but simply didn’t have enough left in the tank against the surging defending champions, who welcomed back their multiple-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The ‘Greek Freak’ gave Cleveland a litany of problems as he led all scorers with 27 points on his 27th birthday, while also grabbing 12 boards in his first contest back from a two-game absence due to a sore calf.

The Cavs need to stop the bleeding

On the other, the Cavaliers got another big night from center Jarrett Allen. Despite snapping his own streak of seven consecutive double-doubles, the (near) seven-foot big man still led the way for Cleveland with 25 markers to go with nine boards in the loss.

Perhaps due to a little fatigue, rising stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley struggled offensively, combining for just 22 points off a dismal 27 percent shooting from the field. The duo still did all the other things, but both of them having an off-shooting night hurt.

Tower City’s other gunners Lauri Markkanen and Kevin Love did find the mark, tallying 20 and 15 points each while making nine of 20 attempts from deep. Sadly, the rest of the team ultimately ran dry late.

Cleveland’s young, resilient squad will have another tough bout ahead against their Central Division rivals and serious playoff contenders Chicago Bulls, also winners of their last four contests. Fortunately, they will get a day off as a reprieve from the brutal back-to-back.

The Cavs will also get the benefit of playing in front of the home crowd at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse when they host the surging Bulls team on December 8.