Cleveland still has a game to play before this one: a trip to Atlanta on Thursday. That result will set the Cavaliers' record and mood coming into Milwaukee, and it will show whether their habit of starting slow shows up on the road. Cleveland had won 3 straight as of Wednesday, all at home, after blowing a 29-point lead in a season-opening loss at Philadelphia.
Those home wins weren't comfortable. Washington led 69-59 at the half on Wednesday before Cleveland won the 3rd quarter 33-23 and the 4th 29-19. It was the Cavs' 2nd straight home comeback from 10 down at the break. Evan Mobley carried it with 24 points, a career-high 5 threes and 10 in the 4th. Peyton Watson added 22 and Donovan Mitchell had 19. Cleveland plays well after halftime. It also keeps putting itself in a hole before it.
That's the matchup on Saturday, October 31 at 7:00 PM CT. Cleveland's offense has scored 121 or more in each of its 3 wins. Milwaukee's defense has been run over by Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia and Houston. If the Cavs come out flat again, Herro and a Bucks team playing at home could jump on them early. Spotting Milwaukee 10 at the half is a lot riskier than spotting Washington 10.
For Milwaukee, the beat-up win over Indiana is the template: 110-102, the only game this season where it held an opponent under 114. Ware against Mobley inside is the matchup to watch. If the Bucks can make Cleveland's frontcourt work for its points, this stays close. If they can't, it looks like Houston again.