MILWAUKEE -- In the second to last home game of the season, the host Milwaukee Bucks got a little reminder of how good their division rival Cleveland Cavaliers can be.
Led by J.R. Smith's 21 first-half points, the Cavs handed the Bucks their worst loss of the season, a 109-80 demolition job at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Milwaukee, which shot under 40% from the field and only 25% from beyond the arc, got a stellar performance from Giannis Antetolounmpo, who tallied 22 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists.
Smith and Jabari Parker both got off to good starts for their respective teams, but Smith was the star from the tip. He had 12 of the first 17 points for the Cavaliers, who shot 50% from 3 land and made an incredible seven shots from beyond the arc in the first eight minutes.
Giannis, meanwhile, got going a bit early as well, but LeBron James was clearly in facilitator mode, and his cohorts were on fire, giving the Cavs a 33-19 lead after one.
The Cavs extended their lead to 20 early in the second quarter, and Milwaukee couldn?t claw their way back. Smith had 7 3s in the first half, helping him break the Cavaliers single-season record formerly held by Wesley Person of 192 in one year.
The Bucks trailed 43-67 at half, and 67-93 after three, when the Cavaliers rested their starters in the fourth en route to a 109-80 victory.
The young Bucks will play their next game in Boston on Friday, while the Cavaliers will travel to Indiana tonight to try to wrap up the number one seed in the East.
Photo: Bucks forward Jabari Parker faces a wall of Cavs defenders in this bit of action on Tuesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center where Cleveland pummeled Milwaukee, 109-80.
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