Cavaliers pull away in fourth quarter to beat short-handed Bucks 123-116 at Fiserv Forum
Cleveland outscored Milwaukee 38-29 in the final period after the Bucks erased an early 13-point deficit
The Milwaukee Bucks fell 123-116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at Fiserv Forum, as Cleveland used a decisive fourth quarter to secure the road win. The Cavaliers led by as many as 15 points and held Milwaukee to 21% of total game time in front, after the Bucks briefly moved ahead during a strong second quarter.
Cleveland opened with a 37-24 first quarter, establishing early control behind efficient interior scoring and a steady pace. Milwaukee responded with a 34-point second quarter to cut the deficit to a single point by halftime, 57-58, but Cleveland regained separation after the break and closed the game with a 38-point fourth quarter.
Quarter-by-quarter: Cavaliers 37-20-28-38 (123); Bucks 24-34-29-29 (116).
Shooting: Cleveland 42-of-86 (49%) from the field; Milwaukee 42-of-88 (48%).
Three-pointers: Milwaukee 20-of-45 (44%); Cleveland 12-of-36 (33%).
Free throws: Cleveland 27-of-34 (79%); Milwaukee 12-of-17 (71%).
Rebounding: Cavaliers 46, Bucks 39.
Turnovers: Cavaliers 7, Bucks 8.
Evan Mobley delivered a double-double for Cleveland with 27 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, going 12-of-21 from the floor. James Harden also scored 27 points and was credited with six assists, with Cleveland leaning heavily on its top creators late as the game tightened. Donovan Mitchell’s name appeared in the play-by-play as a scoring contributor, while Cleveland’s overall advantage at the free-throw line helped stabilize possessions in the final minutes.
For Milwaukee, Kevin Porter Jr. posted 25 points and led the team with 10 assists, while Bobby Portis was the Bucks’ top rebounder with nine. Despite Milwaukee’s high-volume three-point production, the Bucks generated fewer free-throw attempts and finished with a smaller margin on the glass, limiting the impact of their perimeter efficiency.
The game turned in the fourth quarter, when Cleveland’s 38-point surge outpaced Milwaukee’s 29 and rebuilt a lead that had narrowed to one at halftime.
The result completed the season series between the Central Division rivals, with Cleveland taking three of four meetings. The Cavaliers improved to 42-27, while the Bucks moved to 28-40, as Milwaukee continued a late-season push that has been marked by uneven availability and shifting rotations.