Wrap-Up – Wednesday’s win over Milwaukee comes at the end of the season. But in many ways it marked the beginning of a new one.
In a tough game that featured nine ties and nine lead changes, the Cavaliers pulled away down the stretch to take the 104-99 win over the Bucks – wrapping up the fourth Central Division crown in franchise history as well as the second seed in the Eastern Conference Playoff picture with four games remaining in the regular season.
Kyrie Irving continued his mastery of Milwaukee, leading the Wine and Gold with 27 points – going 7-for-13 from the floor to go with a game-high nine assists and team-high three steals. Irving, who came into the contest averaging 24.3 ppg against the Bucks, his highest against any team in the East – notched 17 of his 27 points in the second period, going 4-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Kyrie, Kevin and LeBron combine for 64 points.
View some of the best snapshots.
LeBron throws down a monstrous dunk off a missed bucket.
Go inside the locker room.
Watch final game highlights from Wednesday's victory.
LeBron James, who notched his first triple-double of the season on Sunday, flirted with his second on Wednesday night – finishing with 21 points, nine boards and eight helpers. James, who set the tone early with a pair of massive dunks, was 8-for-15 from the floor, adding a steal and blocked shot.
The power forward combination of Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson was highly productive in the victory – with both players notching double-doubles. Love doubled-up for his team-leading 38th time, netting 16 points and 11 boards. Thompson, the league’s top-rebounding reserve, added 11 points and 10 boards in just 24 minutes of action.
J.R. Smith, who drilled seven treys in Cleveland’s last trip to Milwaukee, had a quieter evening this time around, but still tallied double-figures, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
Despite arguably their best player – Giannis Antetokounmpo – getting an unexpected DNP-CD, the Bucks still shot an even 50 percent from the floor and outscored the Wine and Gold in the paint, 52-36. But the Cavaliers took twice as many free throws as Milwaukee and canned 11 three-pointers to the Bucks’ six. Powered by Love, Thompson and LeBron, Cleveland also topped Milwaukee on the boards, 44-32.
Turning Point – At morning shootaround, LeBron James talked about how he prefers winning on the road. That joy was on full display as he inserted the dagger to Milwaukee with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Bucks and Cavs went back and forth through much of the game and all of the fourth quarter. But with just over three minutes to play, Cleveland looked like it was about to wrap up the affair – extending its lead to eight when James split a pair of free throws. But after a Zaza Pachulia layup and four straight points from O.J. Mayo, including a short jumper that got Milwaukee to within a deuce with 35 seconds to play, the Bucks were back in business.
LeBron, however, was not to be outdone. And on Cleveland’s next possession, the four-time MVP faced up against Jared Dudley and launched a 25-footer that drew nothing but not – and some pained ooooohhhs and ahhhhhhhs from the crowd. Michael Carter-Williams, who led all scorers with 30 points, scored on Milwaukee’s next possession, but Kyrie’s free throws with 8.2 to play sealed the deal
By the Numbers – 17 … points Kevin Love needs to score in the next four games for the Cavaliers to become just the second team in NBA history – joining the 1995-96 Dallas Mavericks – to have three players with at least 1200 points and over 115 three-pointers made in a season.
Quotable – LeBron James, on what it means to win the Central Division crown …
”It means a lot for the simple fact that I know how hard it is to win in professional sports. To be able to win the division and put a banner in our building means something to all of us. It’s not guaranteed every year. It’s tough to do that in the NBA with the competition. We understand that we have bigger goals than this, but along with those goals we have accomplishments that we can’t take for granted.”
Up Next –After overcoming the Bucks in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, the Cavaliers have only one road game remaining in the regular season. But before they finish up in Boston on Sunday, they welcome the Celtics to Quicken Loans Arena on Friday night – the first half of their home-and-home matchup this weekend. After their trip to Beantown on Sunday afternoon, the Wine and Gold welcome the Pistons to town on Monday night before wrapping up the 2014-15 campaign next Wednesday when they face off against the Wizards on Fan Appreciation Night.