Darius Garland’s 39-Point Explosion lit up the scoreboard, propelling the Cleveland Cavaliers to a nail-biting 116-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. The Cavaliers, now sitting pretty at a spotless 8-0 record, matched their best-ever season start from way back in 1976. Who knew history could repeat itself so thrillingly?
Darius Garland’s 39-Point Explosion: The Cavs’ Unstoppable Force?
Garland’s late-game heroics were the stuff of legends. With just 45 seconds left, he sank a smooth step-back three to thrust Cleveland ahead 113-111. Not satisfied with that, he then dished an assist to Jarrett Allen, who nailed a game-sealing layup. The Bucks tried to hang tough, but they were left chasing shadows, marking their sixth straight loss. And without their powerhouse, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo—sidelined with an adductor strain—Milwaukee’s once-formidable lineup appeared anything but.
The Cavaliers had led by as much as 19 in the second quarter, but the Bucks found a way to fight back. Damian Lillard, the new addition to Milwaukee’s arsenal, dropped 14 of his 36 points in the third quarter, rallying his squad to a brief lead of 91-89. Yet, a thrilling final quarter saw the momentum swing violently. Garland’s clutch three-pointer ignited a 10-0 Cavaliers run, and even though Lillard tried to revive the Bucks with a burst of brilliance, Cleveland wasn’t having any of it.
Evan Mobley chipped in with 17 points, while Allen dominated the boards with 15 rebounds and delivered a monster block on Lillard with only 8.8 seconds on the clock. As Garland put it, “We had to fight for 48 minutes. They came out swinging in the second half, but it was a team effort all the way.” What can we say? You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
It was a chaotic night across the league, with every team suiting up before Tuesday’s pause for the U.S. presidential election. The Detroit Pistons stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 115-103, thanks to a triple-double performance by Cade Cunningham. Anthony Davis racked up 37 points but couldn’t save the Lakers, grimacing from what looked like a foot or ankle injury. Meanwhile, LeBron James added 20 points, yet the Pistons refused to be denied, keeping control from the first quarter onward.
The reigning champions, the Boston Celtics, made light work of the Atlanta Hawks, cruising to a 123-93 blowout win in Atlanta. Jayson Tatum led the charge with 28 points, while Derrick White added 21. Despite missing Jaylen Brown, Boston barely broke a sweat.
Oh, and let’s not forget: Stephen Curry made a triumphant return for the Golden State Warriors, leading them to a 125-112 victory over the Wizards in Washington. Curry scored 24 points in his first game back from a left ankle tweak, proving once again that the Warriors’ heart beats strongest when he’s on the court.
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