Cavaliers 114, Bucks 111 (OT): Kyrie Irving scored 10 of his 39 points in overtime to lift host Cleveland to its sixth win in nine games.
Jarrett Jack scored 17 points and C.J. Miles added 15 for the Cavaliers, who finished 25-of-27 from the free-throw line. Tristan Thompson had 10 points – including the game-tying hoop to force overtime – and added 15 rebounds.
O.J. Mayo returned from a one-game layoff to score 20 points on 6-of-21 shooting – including a miss from 3-point range at the buzzer in overtime – and John Henson added 18 points for Milwaukee. Brandon Knight finished with 17 points, a season-high 14 boards and eight assists while Khris Middleton had 14 points but missed a potential game-winner at the end of regulation.
The game was tied at halftime and again after three quarters before a tight fourth quarter saw plenty of late drama. After Henson put Milwaukee up 96-94 with two free throws with 1:45 left, the teams exchanged misses until Thompson had a tip-in with 1.8 seconds left and Middleton was off on a good look at the other end to send it to overtime.
Irving hit two 3-pointers in the early portions of the extra session and Jack drained a pullup to make it 104-98 midway through. Earl Clark’s 3-pointer put Cleveland up 110-105 with 44 seconds left and Irving hit four straight free throws to help the hosts survive late 3-pointers by Middleton and Mayo.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Bucks PF Ersan Ilyasova will be shut down for a few games to rest a bothersome ankle after playing 49 minutes in a double-overtime loss to New York on Wednesday. … Irving also finished with a career-high four blocks. … C Anderson Varejao had 13 rebounds and three blocks off the bench for Cleveland.
