With the Cavs down three starters and the Bucks playing several of their starters well into the fourth quarter, this might have been the time for the Wine and Gold to concede their first loss of the preseason. Kevin Love and Dion Waiters had other ideas.
Love caught fire in the second quarter of Cleveland’s overtime win over Miami in Brazil and didn’t cool off upon his stateside return. After leading both teams with 25 points in Rio, Love added 25 more on Tuesday at The Q. Waiters was right behind him – notching 23 points as the Cavaliers held on to hand Milwaukee the 106-100 loss to stay unbeaten through a trio of exhibition contests.
Love, acquired in a blockbuster trade over Cleveland’s blockbuster summer, was 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in Saturday’s win and went 5-of-7 from long-distance on Tuesday night. Overall, the versatile four-time All-Star was 8-for-11 from the floor, adding four boards and a pair of assists in just 21 minutes of action.
”I don’t think that anyone here is surprised by Kevin’s ability to come out and do the things that he does,” praised Coach Blatt. “He’s a high-level player. He really found his way last Saturday in Brazil. Tonight, Kyrie (Irving) and LeBron (James) aren’t there and he’s doing the same thing. So, his consistency has been really good.”
GAME LINKS
Waiters warmed up after intermission, tallying 13 of his 23 points in the third quarter – going 3-of-5 from three-point range in the period. On the evening, the third-year guard from Syracuse was 8-of-13 from the floor to go with a pair of board, assists and a steal.
With the second-half of a back-to-back against Indiana looming on Wednesday night in Cincinnati, the Cavs made the decision to give LeBron James the evening off. (Although he’s very likely to start that game in Cincy.) Kyrie Irving tweaked his right ankle in practice on Friday afternoon in Rio and, after missing Saturday’s matchup, was also out for Tuesday’s contest. Tristan Thompson was a late scratch with a sore right shoulder.
Shawn Marion got the start in place of James and rounded out the Cavaliers in double-figures with 11 points to go with a team-leading seven boards. As he’s always done, the Matrix filled every column of the box score, adding an assist, a steal and a blocked shot.
Matthew Dellavedova got his second straight start in place of Irving and, despite netting just a single field goal, handed out as many assists (9) as the Bucks’ entire starting lineup.
”That’s what I played all through college so I feel pretty comfortable playing point guard and I played the point at the World Cup with Australia,” said Delly. “So it’s just getting used to these sets like Coach Blatt wants but I’m feeling more and more comfortable.”
Every Cavalier reserve who played got into the scoring column beside James Jones. A.J. Price, who canned a trio of three-pointers in Saturday’s win, led all Cavalier bench players with nine points. Backup big man Alex Kirk added eight points and three boards.
The Cavaliers shot 45 percent from the floor as a team; the Bucks, 47 percent. A tight game throughout – Tuesday’s contest featured 11 ties and 16 lead-changes.
The Wine and Gold travel to southern Ohio for the first of two interstate trips – taking on the Pacers on Wednesday before returning to The Q to face the Mavericks on Friday night. On Monday, they make their way to the state capital to take on the Bulls and face the Grizzlies two nights later in Memphis to wrap up the preseason.