Kevin Porter Jr. scored 20 points, Ryan Rollins added 18, and Milwaukee held off a short-handed Cleveland squad Wednesday night for its fifth win in six games.
The Cavaliers appeared to force overtime on Jarrett Allen’s putback at the buzzer, but officials ruled the shot came after time expired. Allen finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds.
Cleveland was without James Harden, who broke his right thumb Tuesday, as well as Donovan Mitchell (strained right groin) and Evan Mobley. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th straight game for Milwaukee with a strained right calf.
Jaylon Tyson’s free throws pulled Cleveland within two before Dennis Schroder — acquired from Sacramento on Feb. 1 — tied it at 116 with 35.6 seconds left. Porter answered with a jumper from the free-throw line with 20.2 seconds remaining for the decisive basket.
Schroder led the Cavaliers with 26 points, his highest total in nine games with the team. Cleveland dropped into fourth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind New York.
Up next: The Cavaliers visit the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. The Bucks host the New York Knicks on Friday night.
