Cleveland-cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks Picks and Predictions December 20th 2024

Bucks Return to Action Against League-Leading Cavaliers After NBA Cup Triumph

Fresh off their NBA Cup victory, the Milwaukee Bucks are back on the court Friday night, visiting the Cleveland Cavaliers in a clash of Eastern Conference heavyweights. The Bucks, fueled by their success in Las Vegas, will face a Cavaliers team boasting the league’s best record and a dominant offense.

Bucks Riding High After NBA Cup Victory

Milwaukee secured the NBA Cup on Tuesday with a 97-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giannis Antetokounmpo earned NBA Cup MVP honors with a commanding triple-double of 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Damian Lillard chipped in 23 points.

“It’s great for our team. We’re playing good basketball, we trust in one another,” Antetokounmpo said. “Most importantly, we were competing defensively. Job’s not done. We have a lot of basketball in front of us.”

The Bucks are looking to carry that momentum into Friday’s game, where they’ll need to rely on their offensive firepower. Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in scoring at 32.7 points per game, along with a team-high 11.5 rebounds. Lillard contributes 7.5 assists per game and has shown he can take over when needed, scoring 41 and 36 points in back-to-back games against Cleveland earlier this season.

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Cavaliers Look to Stay Hot

Cleveland has been off since Monday, when they cruised to a 130-101 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Seven Cavaliers scored in double figures, led by Evan Mobley with 21 points. The win marked Cleveland’s fourth straight as they continue to set the pace in the NBA standings.

“Sometimes with all the 3-point shooting in this league you forget all the activity you need to contest,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said of his team’s defensive improvement. “I think we got back to turning teams over, that was a point of emphasis, getting more physical.”

Donovan Mitchell leads the Cavaliers with 23.3 points per game, while Darius Garland contributes 20.3 points and a team-high 6.5 assists. Cleveland boasts the league’s top offensive rating (120.6) and ranks ninth defensively (110.3). They also lead the NBA in field-goal percentage (50.4) and 3-point shooting (39.9).

Injury Updates

Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton missed the NBA Cup final due to illness, though it was unrelated to his earlier ankle injury. Cleveland’s Isaac Okoro is out for at least two weeks with a shoulder injury sustained Monday. Max Strus, Craig Porter Jr., and Jaylon Tyson also missed that game, though Strus was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.

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Previous Matchups and Season Series Outlook

Cleveland has won three consecutive games against Milwaukee, including back-to-back nail-biters in November decided by one and two points, respectively. Antetokounmpo missed the second of those games, but Lillard’s heroics kept the Bucks close in both contests.

The two teams have split their four-game season series in each of the past two years. Friday’s game could set the tone for the rest of the season as the Bucks look to build on their recent success and Cleveland aims to maintain their dominance.

Offensive Showdown

Both teams bring firepower to the matchup. The Bucks rank third in 3-point shooting (38.9 percent) and lead the NBA over the last 15 games at 41.0 percent. Taurean Prince and AJ Green have been sharpshooting leaders for Milwaukee, hitting 51.6 percent and 47.6 percent from beyond the arc, respectively.

With both squads in strong form, Friday’s game promises to be a high-energy clash, showcasing two of the Eastern Conference’s top contenders.