Cavaliers crush Bucks

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers delivered a reality check to newly crowned National Basketball Association (NBA) Cup champions Milwaukee on Friday, dominating the Bucks 124-101 to push their league-best record to 24-4.

Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and Darius Garland added 16 for the Cavs, who led by as many as 36 points as the Bucks struggled in the absence of injured guard Damian Lillard.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks to victory in the NBA Cup final against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, scored 33 points with 14 rebounds and three steals.

Khris Middleton, back from illness, scored 14 points off the bench for Milwaukee, but starting guards Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green were a combined 0-for-9 from the field, neither contributing a point.

The Cavaliers, winners of seven of their last eight, improved to 15-1 at home and got good news with the season debut of Max Strus — who had been sidelined with hip and ankle injuries.

Strus scored nine points in 19:07 minutes off the bench for Cleveland and drilled three of their 20 three-pointers.

“We did it on both ends of the floor,” Mitchell said. “We set the tone, offensively, defensively. Knowing they had a long trip back (we were) trying to get going early, push the pace, and we did it for 48 minutes.”