MILWAUKEE _ The Cavaliers entered with five consecutive victories over the Milwaukee Bucks.
But in their hunt for continued mastery, the Cavs discovered that these Bucks are a different kind of deer.
Since their last meeting, the Bucks acquired point guard Eric Bledsoe in a Nov. 7 trade with the Phoenix Suns, adding even more speed and athleticism to their attack.
The combination Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA's second-leading scorer, Bledsoe, Khris Middleton, John Henson and Malcolm Brogdon proved too much for the Cavs Tuesday night in a thrilling 119-116 Bucks victory.
The Cavs (23-9) had their five-game winning streak end as they suffered their second setback in the past 20 games. The Bucks (16-13) snapped a three-game losing streak.
Antetokounmpo scored a team-high 27 points for the Bucks, who received double-digit scoring contributions from Bledsoe (26 points), Middleton (18), Brogdon (16) and Henson (15).
The Cavs nearly pulled off a stunning comeback from a 20-point, fourth-quarter deficit with LeBron James playing only the last 3:38 of the final period.
With Marquette product Dwyane Wade playing his final game in the Warriors' home, to be replaced next year with a new arena next door, he teamed with Kyle Korver, Jeff Green, Jae Crowder and Tristan Thompson to rally the Cavs from a 103-83 deficit with 10:49 to go. The Cavs went on a 24-2 surge that included a 19-0 run after being outplayed for three quarters.
James scored six points when he returned, but a 3-pointer by Tony Snell gave the Bucks a 115-113 lead with 58.9 seconds to go. After a timeout, James and Korver missed from long range for the Cavs and Antetokounmpo converted a 3-point play on what was nearly a turnover with 5.9 seconds left.
James made another 3-pointer and the Cavs immediately fouled Middleton, who made the first of two foul shots for the final margin.
James came in with three consecutive triple-doubles and four in the past five games. He finished with 39 points, one rebound, seven assists, three steals and two blocked shots, but also committed seven turnovers.
Kevin Love added 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Wade scored 14 points and Green 13 as the Cavs' reserves totaled 38 points.
Until the fourth quarter, the vibe felt like all Bucks after an ill-timed Korver foul ended the first quarter. Korver jumped as Antetokounmpo ran him over as time expired. Antetokounmpo got three free throws and made them all to cut the Cavs' lead at the break to 34-30.
The third quarter ended in a similar fashion after a Wade foul sent Antetokounmpo back to the line with nine-tenths of a second left. He made both for a 98-83 lead.
The Cavs jumped ahead 15-4 before the Bucks found their mojo. Middleton led a 12-4 run as the Bucks cut the deficit to 19-16.
Soon the Cavs had gone from 11 points ahead to 14 points behind in the second quarter. The Bucks had a field day in the second quarter, their 39 points matching the most given up in any quarter by the Cavs this season. The Bucks made 15 of 24 from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range in the quarter. Brogdon had 11 points in the quarter, Middleton 10 and Bledsoe nine.
After James entered at the 7:13 mark in the second quarter, he looked to be playing the Bucks alone. He scored 10 consecutive points and the Bucks pulled ahead 61-48 with 3:24 left. It was 64-50 after a Brogdon 3-pointer, but Love countered with two consecutive 3-pointers to cut the margin to 64-56.
Foul trouble plagued the Cavs as shooting guards Korver and J.R. Smith both picked up their third fouls early in the second quarter, Korver at the 8:29 mark, Smith at 7:13.
The Cavs knew the Bucks would be more formidable with the addition of Bledsoe.
"They're already an attacking team," James said at shootaround. "Starting with Giannis at the head of the snake. The rest of those guys kind of feed off of that, and that's where Bled kind of fits right in with his game, his attack mentality, the way he plays with pace, superior, super athlete, and a guy who likes to compete. So, you're going against a team that competes for four quarters."
