MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 25–24 in the first quarter Saturday night, a result that would have looked considerably better if the NBA had agreed to stop counting.
Unfortunately, Cleveland insisted on playing the remaining 36 minutes.
The Cavaliers responded with a 48–21 second quarter, transforming Milwaukee's narrow early lead into a 72–46 halftime deficit and effectively ending the Bucks' championship celebration for the opening period.
Cleveland eventually won 136–111.
Evan Mobley finished with 27 points, while Jarrett Allen added 25 points and 11 rebounds. Together, they offered Milwaukee a lengthy demonstration of why opposing teams should not be allowed unlimited access to the paint.
The Bucks, meanwhile, received 19 points from Kel'el Ware and 15 from Tyler Herro, but struggled to keep up once Cleveland's offense began operating at a rate of four points per minute.
Milwaukee's early success was genuine. Its first quarter featured enough defense and scoring to suggest a competitive evening.
The problem was that the Cavaliers appeared to view the second quarter as an entirely separate basketball game, one in which Milwaukee had forgotten to register.
By halftime, the Bucks were trailing by 26. By the fourth quarter, Cleveland's lead had grown substantially larger.
For Milwaukee, the loss provided a useful lesson about protecting an advantage.
A one-point lead is technically a lead.
It just isn't much of a retirement plan.
