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Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks Match Player Stats (Feb 25, 2026)

The Milwaukee Bucks edged out the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-116 on February 25, 2026 in a nail-biting finish at Fiserv Forum. Jarrett Allen put up 27 points and 11 rebounds, Dennis Schroder added 26 points for a shorthanded Cavaliers squad, but Kevin Porter Jr.’s go-ahead jumper with 20.2 seconds left sealed it for Milwaukee. If you came here for the full Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks match player stats, we have every number broken down right here.


Final Score and Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

Quarter
Milwaukee Bucks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Q1
33
33
Q2
29
30
Q3
31
31
Q4
25
22
Final
118
116

Three quarters finished dead even. The Bucks outscored Cleveland 25-22 in the fourth, and that three-point margin was the entire difference in the game. Milwaukee got the job done when it mattered most.


Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats

Cavaliers Individual Box Score

Player
POS
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
FG
3PT
FT
+/-
Jarrett Allen
C
27
11
1
2
1
10/15
0/0
7/8
-10
Dennis Schroder
G
26
2
5
1
0
8/14
3/6
7/9
-5
Jaylon Tyson
F
14
10
3
2
0
5/16
1/6
3/3
-19
Sam Merrill
G
14
5
2
0
0
6/13
2/8
0/2
-2
Keon Ellis
G
14
4
3
2
1
5/9
4/8
0/0
+6
Thomas Bryant
C-F
11
2
0
0
0
4/8
1/5
2/2
+8
Craig Porter Jr.
G
8
2
9
0
0
3/4
1/2
1/1
+5
Naeโ€™Qwan Tomlin
F
2
2
0
0
0
1/4
0/2
0/0
-3
Larry Nance Jr.
F-C
0
2
1
0
0
0/0
0/0
0/0
+1

Cavaliers Advanced Stats

Player
True Shooting %
Effective FG %
Efficiency Rating
Points in Paint
Second Chance PTS
Jarrett Allen
72.9%
66.7%
39
20
10
Dennis Schroder
72.4%
67.9%
28
8
1
Keon Ellis
77.8%
77.8%
18
0
0
Jaylon Tyson
40.4%
34.4%
16
8
6
Craig Porter Jr.
90.1%
87.5%
20
4
0
Thomas Bryant
61.9%
56.3%
8
6
3
Sam Merrill
50.4%
53.8%
9
6
3

Allen was the most efficient player on the floor for Cleveland. His 90.9% field goal conversion at the rim and five second-chance points from five attempts tells you everything about how dominant he was inside. Schroder, acquired from Sacramento just three weeks prior, posted his best game as a Cavalier with 26 points on 72.4% true shooting.

Craig Porter Jr. was the quiet standout off the bench, finishing at 90.1% true shooting and dishing out nine assists without a single turnover.


Milwaukee Bucks Player Stats

Bucks Individual Box Score

Player
POS
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
FG
3PT
FT
+/-
Kevin Porter Jr.
G
20
8
5
5
1
10/16
0/2
0/0
+7
Kyle Kuzma
F
17
4
5
1
0
6/14
5/10
0/0
+5
Ryan Rollins
G
18
3
9
0
0
8/13
2/6
0/0
+12
AJ Green
F
15
1
2
0
0
5/10
5/10
0/0
+15
Myles Turner
C
15
3
0
1
1
6/9
3/5
0/1
+5
Bobby Portis
F
10
5
1
0
0
4/8
2/4
0/0
-4
Cam Thomas
G
7
1
2
0
0
3/6
1/2
0/0
-13
Ousmane Dieng
F
5
0
2
0
0
1/6
1/6
2/2
-12

Bucks Advanced Stats

Player
True Shooting %
Effective FG %
Efficiency Rating
Points in Paint
Fast Break PTS
Kevin Porter Jr.
62.5%
62.5%
30
16
4
AJ Green
75.0%
75.0%
9
0
3
Myles Turner
79.4%
83.3%
15
6
0
Ryan Rollins
69.2%
69.2%
18
8
2
Kyle Kuzma
60.7%
60.7%
16
0
0
Bobby Portis
62.5%
62.5%
11
0
0

AJ Green went 5-for-10 from three-point range and finished with a team-best plus-15 rating. Myles Turner was lights out from deep, converting 60% of his three-point attempts on the night. Porter led everything with a game-high efficiency score of 30.


Team Stats Comparison

Head-to-Head Team Box Score

Category
Milwaukee Bucks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Points
118
116
Field Goals
48/88 (54.5%)
42/87 (48.3%)
Three-Pointers
19/45 (42.2%)
12/40 (30.0%)
Free Throws
3/5 (60.0%)
20/27 (74.1%)
Total Rebounds
42
53
Offensive Rebounds
8
16
Assists
28
28
Steals
7
7
Blocks
2
2
Turnovers
13
11
Points in Paint
44
54
Second Chance Points
6
25
Bench Points
33
35
Fast Break Points
9
3
Points off Turnovers
12
20

Shooting and Efficiency Comparison

Category
Milwaukee Bucks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Effective FG %
65.3%
55.2%
True Shooting %
65.4%
58.7%
At-Rim FG %
89.5%
90.9%
Midrange FG %
63.6%
50.0%
Offensive Rating
124.0
123.6
Biggest Lead
12
7
Assists to Turnover Ratio
2.15
2.55

The story of this game lives in two numbers. Milwaukee hit 19 threes. Cleveland grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and turned them into 25 second-chance points. Both approaches nearly worked. Milwaukee’s three-point barrage won out by a thread.


What Happened: The Game Story

Cleveland Came in Shorthanded

Going into this game, the Cavaliers were already operating in crisis mode.

James Harden did not play after breaking his right thumb the night before against New York. Donovan Mitchell sat out nursing a strained right groin. Evan Mobley also missed the game. Three of their most important players, gone.

Milwaukee was also dealing with their own absence. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his 13th straight game with a strained right calf, leaving the Bucks without their franchise cornerstone for the second week running.

Despite all of that, both teams put together one of the tighter games of the week.

The First Half: Neck and Neck

Cleveland actually looked the sharper side early. Sam Merrill punished Milwaukee from three in the opening minutes, and the Cavaliers built a lead that had Doc Rivers calling an early timeout. The Bucks steadied themselves and Craig Porter Jr. completed a three-point play with four seconds left to keep it level at 33-33 after one.

The second quarter was more of the same back-and-forth basketball. Merrill kept scoring, putting up six of Cleveland’s first nine in the frame. Milwaukee responded through Kevin Porter Jr., who went on a personal 6-0 run and threw down a dunk to briefly take the lead. Schroder then scored five in a row to swing it back. Kyle Kuzma missed a three at the buzzer and the Bucks trailed 63-62 at halftime.

Third Quarter: Milwaukee Made a Move, Cleveland Responded

Kuzma came out in the third and hit back-to-back corner threes. Porter Jr. then threw down a poster dunk over Jarrett Allen. A Rollins three put Milwaukee up by 12, their biggest lead of the night.

Cleveland was not done. A 10-0 Cavaliers run with 3:19 left in the third brought them right back. Schroder hit a layup with 4.7 seconds left to put Cleveland ahead 94-93 going into the fourth.

Milwaukee went cold from the field, failing to score from the 2:21 mark of the third all the way to the 8:31 mark of the fourth.

The Fourth Quarter: Porter Jr. Wins It

The fourth quarter was a slow grind. Milwaukee kept Cleveland at bay, and the Bucks kept finding ways to stay in front despite their extended cold stretch.

The final sequence:

  • Jaylon Tyson hit two free throws to cut it to 116-114
  • Kyle Kuzma missed a three-pointer
  • Dennis Schroder drove and scored from the right side to tie it 116-116 with 35.6 seconds left
  • Kevin Porter Jr. hit a free-throw line jumper to put Milwaukee up 118-116 with 20.2 seconds remaining
  • Jarrett Allen appeared to tie it at the buzzer underneath, but officials ruled time had expired

Milwaukee held on for the 118-116 win.


Player Performance Spotlight

Jarrett Allen: The Best Player on the Floor

Allen put together a 27-point, 11-rebound double-double without a three-point attempt in sight. He shot 10-for-15 from the field and converted 7 of 8 from the free throw line. His 5-for-5 on second-chance opportunities and 20 points in the paint were the foundation Cleveland built their comeback attempt on.

His efficiency rating of 39 was the best of any player in this game.

Allen’s key numbers at a glance:

  • 90.9% field goal conversion at the rim
  • 10 second-chance points on 5 attempts
  • 20 points in the paint
  • Highest efficiency score in the game (39)

Dennis Schroder: Best Game as a Cavalier

Schroder, who came over from Sacramento on February 1st, had not quite found his rhythm in Cleveland. This was the game where that changed.

His 26 points were his most in nine games with the Cavaliers. He shot 57.1% from the field, 50% from three, and drew six fouls. His tying basket with 35.6 seconds left nearly sent it to overtime.

Kevin Porter Jr.: The Bucks’ Catalyst

Porter led Milwaukee with 20 points, but the numbers barely capture how disruptive he was. He added 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and a game-high 5 steals. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the paint, went on a personal 6-0 run in the second quarter, threw down a poster dunk in the third, and then hit the go-ahead jumper in the final minute. His efficiency rating of 30 was the highest of any Buck in the game.

Ryan Rollins: Quietly Excellent

Rollins finished with 18 points and 9 assists on 61.5% shooting. He was the engine of Milwaukee’s offense for stretches, and his plus-12 rating was the second-best on the team. His three-pointer to put the Bucks up by 12 in the third was the moment Milwaukee looked like they had taken control of the game before Cleveland roared back.

AJ Green: The Three-Point Specialist

Green went 5-for-10 from three-point range, finished with 15 points, and posted the best plus-minus on the Bucks at plus-15. He was one of the key reasons Milwaukee had so many looks from deep.


Key Storylines and Context

Milwaukee’s Three-Point Volume Won This Game

The Bucks attempted 45 threes and made 19 of them at 42.2%. Cleveland attempted 40 and made just 12 at 30%. That gap is 21 points in three-point production from beyond the arc alone, which basically explains the final margin without anything else needing to be said.

Milwaukee’s perimeter shooting was aggressive and efficient. Green, Kuzma, Turner, and Portis all hit multiple threes. Even with Giannis missing, the Bucks have enough shooting to build leads when the ball is flying in from deep.

Cleveland’s Second Chance Game Was Elite, But Not Enough

Cleveland grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and converted them into 25 second-chance points. For context, Milwaukee only had 8 offensive boards and 6 second-chance points. On that metric, Cleveland won the game decisively.

The Cavaliers also had a 90.9% field goal rate at the rim, outperforming Milwaukee’s 89.5%. They scored 54 points in the paint compared to Milwaukee’s 44.

The problem was the three-point line. Losing that battle by seven made threes is what the Cavaliers could not recover from.

The Buzzer Call

Jarrett Allen’s basket underneath at the final buzzer appeared to tie the game at 118. Officials reviewed it and ruled time had expired before the ball left Allen’s hands. Cleveland did not get the tying basket.

It was a brutal way to end a game where a shorthanded team had fought for 48 minutes to keep it competitive.

Where Both Teams Stand

The Cavaliers fell to fourth in the Eastern Conference after the loss, sitting a half-game behind the New York Knicks. For a team that had only lost twice in their previous 10 games before this night, the loss stings more for the timing than the overall damage.

Milwaukee picked up their fifth win in six games, a strong recent stretch for a team that was sitting at 26-31 on the season. The Bucks have been building momentum without Giannis, and this win added to that run.


Three Numbers That Tell the Story

19      Milwaukee three-pointers made (42.2%)
25      Cleveland second-chance points
20.2s   Time remaining when Porter hit the go-ahead shot

Three numbers. Three storylines. The Bucks made it rain from three, Cleveland owned the glass, and Porter Jr. hit the shot that ended it.


What to Watch Going Forward

For Cleveland:

  • The health of Donovan Mitchell is the priority. His groin strain kept him out of a game they needed.
  • James Harden’s broken thumb is a real concern. The team needs clarity on his timeline.
  • Evan Mobley’s return is crucial if the Cavaliers want to stay in the top four in the East.
  • Their next game was at Detroit on Friday.

For Milwaukee:

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo had now missed 13 straight games. His return date remains uncertain.
  • The Bucks were hosting New York on Friday, another big test without their superstar.
  • Porter Jr., Rollins, and Green have shown they can lead a competitive unit in his absence.

For more NBA coverage, game analysis, and full season stats on teams across both conferences, check out TopHill Sports for regular updates throughout the 2025-26 season.


Complete Stat Reference Table

Cavaliers Complete Stats

Player
MIN
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
FG%
3P%
FT%
EFF
Jarrett Allen
Active
27
11
1
2
1
1
66.7%
N/A
87.5%
39
Dennis Schroder
Active
26
2
5
1
0
3
57.1%
50.0%
77.8%
28
Jaylon Tyson
Active
14
10
3
2
0
0
31.3%
16.7%
100%
16
Keon Ellis
Active
14
4
3
2
1
2
55.6%
50.0%
N/A
18
Sam Merrill
Active
14
5
2
0
0
3
46.2%
25.0%
N/A
9
Craig Porter Jr.
Active
8
2
9
0
0
0
75.0%
50.0%
100%
20
Thomas Bryant
Active
11
2
0
0
0
0
50.0%
20.0%
100%
8
Naeโ€™Qwan Tomlin
Active
2
2
0
0
0
2
25.0%
0%
N/A
-1
Larry Nance Jr.
Active
0
2
1
0
0
0
N/A
N/A
N/A
3

Bucks Complete Stats

Player
MIN
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
TO
FG%
3P%
FT%
EFF
Kevin Porter Jr.
Active
20
8
5
5
1
3
62.5%
0%
N/A
30
Ryan Rollins
Active
18
3
9
0
0
4
61.5%
33.3%
N/A
18
Kyle Kuzma
Active
17
4
5
1
0
0
42.9%
50.0%
N/A
16
AJ Green
Active
15
1
2
0
0
1
50.0%
50.0%
N/A
9
Myles Turner
Active
15
3
0
1
1
0
66.7%
60.0%
N/A
15
Bobby Portis
Active
10
5
1
0
0
0
50.0%
50.0%
N/A
11
Cam Thomas
Active
7
1
2
0
0
2
50.0%
50.0%
N/A
7
Ousmane Dieng
Active
5
0
2
0
0
1
16.7%
16.7%
100%
1

That was the full breakdown of the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks match player stats from February 25, 2026. Milwaukee won 118-116 in one of the tighter games of the season, surviving a gutsy shorthanded performance from Cleveland thanks to Kevin Porter Jr.’s late heroics and a three-point barrage that the Cavaliers simply could not match.

Yarnick Planken
Yarnick Plankenhttps://tophillsports.org/
Yarnick Planken has been reporting for nine years, covering everything from local news to international sports. A Dutch-American journalist who grew up following both European football and American leagues, he learned early that good stories show up everywhere if you know where to look. He's worked across different beats and publications, writing about city politics, community events, and the sports that bring people together. At Top Hill Sports, he covers the full spectrum - breaking news, features, and in-depth sports analysis across the NFL, NBA, MLB, cricket, football, and beyond. He started this site to create a space for straightforward reporting that respects readers' time and intelligence. Whether it's a championship game or a developing story outside sports, the approach stays the same: get it right, make it clear, and tell people what actually matters. He's based in Florida, still watches way too much sports television, and believes the best journalism happens when you stop overthinking it.

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