On Friday December 20th at 7:30 pm eastern time, the 23-4 Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the 14-11 Milwaukee Bucks at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in downtown Cleveland. The Cavaliers last game was a 130-101 dominating win over the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn New York last Monday. The Bucks last game was a 97-81 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City last Tuesday. For the Cavaliers Max Struss was listed as questionable but he did play, and Isaac Okoro was out. Milwaukee was without Damian Lillard. The Cavaliers were trying for their 24th win of the season and to maintain their top seed in the eastern conference.

In the first quarter the Cavaliers outpaced the Bucks for an early advantage. After a late shooting foul occurred to Donovan Mitchell the Cavaliers were given three foul shots with half of second left in the quarter. And the Cavaliers led at the end of one quarter of play 29-20. The Cavaliers started to pull away further from the Bucks in the second quarter and led at halftime by a score of 69-51.  The Cavaliers refused to let up on the Milwaukee Bucks after halftime. The Bucks were outscored 34-25  by the Cavaliers in the third quarter. At the start of the final quarter the Cavaliers led the Bucks 103-76.  The Bucks outscored the Cavs in fourth quarter 25-21. But the Cavaliers did prevail at the end 124-101.

The leading scorer for the Cavaliers was Donovan Mitchell with 27 points in 27 minutes of play. Jarett Allen had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Max Struss made his season debut for the Cavaliers; he produced 9 points in 19 minutes. Up next for the 24-4 Cavaliers is hosting the 9-16 Philadelphia 76ers Saturday December 21st at 8:30 pm eastern time, at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in downtown Cleveland. Cavaliers’ fans are hoping for Merry Christmas, and I think Santa Claus and the Cavaliers will deliver.