The Cleveland Cavaliers opened a three-game trip by outlasting the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 123-116 on Tuesday night.
Evan Mobley and James led the Cavaliers with 27 points each, while Mobley grabbed his season-high 15 rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell scored 19 points and Sam Merrill added 17 points in his return from a two-game absence due to left hamstring tightness.
On the other hand, Kevin Porter Jr. led Milwaukee with 25 points and 10 assists, while Ousmane Dieng, Bobby Portis, and Ryan Rollins added 19 points each.
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is sidelined again with a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. This was his career-high 32nd game missed this season, and Milwaukee fell to 11-21 without him.
Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen missed a sixth straight game due to tendinitis in his right knee, while the Bucks also did not have Myles Turner due to right calf strain.
Cleveland pulled ahead for good, 103-100, on Merrill’s triple with 6:55 left, which started an 8-0 run.
The Bucks cut the lead to 110-106 on Dieng’s three with 3:39 left, but the Cavaliers responded with seven straight points.
Cleveland maintained the edge by at least five the rest of the way.
Milwaukee shot 20 of 45 from distance, and their bench outscored Cleveland’s 57-24.
Both teams will play road games on Thursday: the Cavaliers visit Chicago, while the Bucks visit Utah.
