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The Cavaliers achieve their best start to a season in nearly 50 years thanks to a clutch Donovan Mitchell shot as they overcome a 41-point explosion from Damian Lillard and a near-triple-double by Giannis Antetokounmpo
Donovan Mitchell buried a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining as the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their unbeaten run with a 114-113 win over the host Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, November 2 (Sunday, November 3, Manila time).
Mitchell had 30 points for the Cavaliers, who recorded their seventh successive victory, their best start to a season since Bill Fitch coached them to a franchise-record 8-0 start in 1976-77.
DONOVAN MITCHELL HITS THE GAME-WINNER AND THE CAVS STAY UNDEFEATED 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3elChNkccv
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 3, 2024
Sam Merrill contributed 17 points off the bench, including five three-pointers, Jarrett Allen had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Evan Mobley had 14 points and 7 boards, and Darius Garland finished with 11 points and 10 assists.
Damian Lillard notched 41 points — including 10 three-pointers — and 9 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo piled on 34 points, 16 rebounds, 9 nine assists, and Taurean Prince scored 16.
Inside the frenetic final minute of the fourth, with the Cavs up by a point, Mitchell missed a pair of runners, Antetokounmpo overcooked a layup, and Brook Lopez blocked Allen’s dunk attempt.
Lillard nailed a step-back jumper with 9.8 seconds left to put Milwaukee in front before Mitchell replied with the game-winner.
Lillard, who was held to a career-low-tying four points on 1-of-12 shooting versus Memphis on Thursday, bounced back with two treys in the first 90 seconds and finished the opening term with 18 points, including 5 of 8 from downtown.
The Bucks had jumped ahead 9-0, led by as many as 16 points, and buried 8 of 15 three-pointers to lead 38-30 after one.
Mitchell piloted a 13-0 second-quarter burst to help the Cavaliers get their first lead before Milwaukee moved back in front at the half when Antetokounmpo’s no-look, behind-the-back bounce pass found Lillard for his seventh triple.
The lead changed hands 11 times in the third period, at the end of which Cleveland led 87-84, before further momentum swings continued to shape the contest in the pulsating fourth. – Rappler.com
