Bucks drop Cavs

GIANNIS Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks stretch their winning streak to 18 games. AFP

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 29 points as the Milwaukee Bucks won their 18th straight game with a 125-108 victory over the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.

The Bucks dominated inside and out as they continued their franchise best start and moved within just two victories of equaling their all-time longest winning streak.

Milwaukee’s 24-3 start is the best in the 52-year history of the organization. Their next two games though are against two top teams in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. The longest winning streak is 20 games set by the 1970-1971 Bucks.

Khris Middleton finished with 24 points and a half dozen Bucks scored in double figures.

Milwaukee jumped out to an 18-point halftime lead and extended it to as many as 28 points in the third quarter on the way to their 18th straight win.

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer sat Antetokounmpo with the game in hand. The reigning league Most Valuable Player finished with just 24 minutes, that’s seven minutes below his season average.

He posted his 11th consecutive game with at least 24 points and a field-goal shooting percentage above 50 percent.

Hapless Cleveland dropped its 15th game over the last 17, a skid dating back to 12 November.

Cleveland got just 50 points from its starting five, led by Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love each with 12 points.

Elsewhere, Jimmy Butler scored 27 points as the Miami Heat recorded a 122-118 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks in a game that saw Luka Doncic injure his ankle in the first quarter.

X-rays were negative for Doncic, who did not return to the game after stepping on the foot of Miami guard Kendrick Nunn while driving to the basket. He remained on the floor for several moments before hobbling off to the locker room.

Doncic, who was the National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year in 2018-2019, entered the game averaging team-leading totals in points (30.4), rebounds (9.9) and assists (9.3) this season.

His streak of 20 consecutive games with at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists ended due to the injury.