Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats

Giannis Antetokounmpo dropped 40 points and Donovan Mitchell answered with clutch fourth-quarter shooting — the kind of exchange that defines the Bucks–Cavaliers rivalry. Across five matchups spanning late 2025 into early 2026, these Central Division rivals have traded wins, highlighted by a 118-116 Bucks victory in February 2026 and a 123-116 Cavaliers win in March.

Latest Bucks Win: 118-116 over Cavaliers (Feb 25, 2026) · Cavaliers Hold Off: Bucks on Oct 26, 2025 · Mobley Points: 23 in Mar 17, 2026 game · Mitchell Points: 24 including 10 in Q4 (Oct 26) · Porter Jr. Points: 20 in Feb 25 win

The data below tracks team-level performance across the rivalry’s most recent stretch, revealing where each side excels and where the matchups remain closest.

Who is the Milwaukee Bucks’ best player?

Giannis Antetokounmpo remains the cornerstone of the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense, and the head-to-head numbers against Cleveland back that up. Against the Cavaliers during the 2025-26 season, Giannis averaged 32.6 points per game — the highest average of any player across these matchups (ESPN). He also contributed 11.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game against Cleveland, showing the all-around impact that makes him the Bucks’ most complete player in this rivalry.

Historical leaders

Looking at all-time regular season play against Cleveland, the Bucks hold a significant historical edge. In 241 total games against the Cavaliers, Milwaukee has won 133 compared to Cleveland’s 108 victories (Land of Basketball). However, recent history tells a different story — Cleveland has won 14 of the last 20 matchups against the Bucks (Land of Basketball), suggesting the rivalry dynamics have shifted.

Current season standouts

Beyond Giannis, several Bucks players have shown up in key moments against Cleveland. Kevin Porter Jr. hit the clutch go-ahead jumper in the February 25, 2026 victory (ESPN), finishing with 20 points. Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 1.71 steals per game against Cleveland (ESPN), while Myles Turner paced the team with 1.79 blocks per game against the Cavs (ESPN).

Why did the Cleveland Cavaliers get fined $100,000?

The NBA fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 for sitting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, according to league sources. The decision to rest both All-Star players drew scrutiny under the league’s player participation policy, which aims to prevent teams from sitting healthy star players in nationally televised games (ESPN).

Rest decision details

The fine highlighted the tension between load management strategies and the NBA’s entertainment obligations. Mitchell had been dealing with what the team described as minor soreness, while Mobley’s rest was more proactively managed — a decision the league deemed inconsistent with competitive integrity expectations for marquee matchups.

Mitchell and Mobley impact

Without their two primary scorers, Cleveland struggled offensively in that particular matchup. When both players are active against Milwaukee, they combine for an average of 53 points per game (ESPN), making them essential to any strategy aimed at beating the Bucks. The fine signaled the league’s willingness to enforce participation rules even for established franchises.

What are Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats?

Across the most recent matchups between these Central Division rivals, individual performances tell the story of two teams built around superstar firepower. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 24 points in the October 26, 2025 game, including 10 in the fourth quarter (ESPN). Giannis Antetokounmpo answered with 40 points that same night, the highest individual scoring output in any of these five head-to-head games.

Latest game box scores

The February 25, 2026 game delivered the closest finish. Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 20 points and hit the go-ahead jumper that decided the 118-116 Bucks victory (ESPN). Ryan Rollins added 18 points off the bench for Milwaukee. At that point in the season, the Bucks stood at 26-31 overall while Cleveland sat at 37-23 (ESPN), showing how well the Cavaliers had kept pace in the standings despite their rivalry struggles.

Key performers

Evan Mobley continued his strong play against Milwaukee, averaging 23 points in the March 17, 2026 game. His 9.0 rebounds per game against the Bucks lead Cleveland in that category (ESPN), while his 1.62 blocks per game ranking among the Cavs’ defensive highlights. The Cavaliers shot 48.2% from the field, 35.4% from three, and 77.2% from the free throw line across the last five games against Milwaukee (StatMuse).

The rivalry’s player stats reveal that when Giannis and Mitchell trade high-scoring nights, the remaining roster support determines the outcome. Porter Jr.’s clutch shooting in February showed the Bucks can steal wins even when their star leads a losing effort.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers last 5 games

The last five head-to-head matchups between Milwaukee and Cleveland show a team in transition on both sides. Cleveland won three of the five games, but Milwaukee’s 118-116 victory on February 25, 2026 proved they can beat the Cavs when the game goes down to the wire.

Recent results

• Oct 26, 2025: Cavaliers 118, Bucks 113 — Mitchell 24 pts, Giannis 40 pts (ESPN)
• Mar 9, 2025: Cavaliers 112, Bucks 100 — Cleveland controlled throughout (StatMuse)
• Feb 25, 2026: Bucks 118, Cavaliers 116 — Porter Jr. clutch go-ahead jumper (ESPN)
• Mar 17, 2026: Cavaliers 123, Bucks 116 — Cleveland’s balanced attack prevailed (StatMuse)
• Nov 17, 2025: Cleveland at Milwaukee scheduled matchup (ESPN)

Player trends

Across the last five games, Cleveland averaged 112.8 points per game while holding Milwaukee to 110.8 (AiScore). The Cavaliers’ ability to get to the free throw line — 77.2% accuracy — gave them an edge in close games. For the Bucks, their 50.16% field goal percentage against Cleveland (ESPN) kept them competitive even when the Cavs’ defense tightened.

The shooting percentages favor the Bucks in head-to-head play, but Cleveland’s recent win count shows the Cavs have found ways to win despite lower efficiency numbers.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Stats

Team-level statistics reveal how evenly matched these two franchises have been, with subtle differences in philosophy driving their approaches. The Cavaliers score 121.1 points per game this season compared to Milwaukee’s 118.4 (ESPN), but the Bucks post a better field goal percentage (50.16% vs Cleveland’s 48.2%) when facing each other.

Head-to-head

Aggregating the last 10 head-to-head games, StatMuse shows Cleveland totaling 1,169 points over 2,400 minutes of play (StatMuse). In the last 5 games, the Cavaliers pulled down 223 rebounds and handed out 128 assists across 1,200 minutes (StatMuse). The Bucks’ perimeter shooting (41.07% from three) gives them a reliable fallback option when interior defense — particularly Evan Mobley’s 9.0 rebounds per game — clogs the lane.

Timeline overview

Betting trends compiled by BettingPros show the Cavaliers winning 4 of their last 5 games against Milwaukee, with a 60% against-the-spread win rate in those matchups (BettingPros). However, the single Bucks victory in that stretch came in dramatic fashion, suggesting the rivalry remains genuinely competitive rather than one-sided.

The betting data suggests the Cavs’ recent dominance translates to financial returns for bettors, though the Bucks’ efficiency metrics indicate they remain a dangerous opponent even in losing efforts.

Kevin Porter Jr. sinks clutch go-ahead jumper for Bucks

— ESPN Game Highlights (ESPN)

Jericho Sims elevates for alley-oop jam

— Box score commentary from the February 25, 2026 game (ESPN)

The series data makes one thing clear: when these teams meet, star power decides the outcome more than system. Giannis and Mitchell trading 40-point and 24-point nights, Porter Jr. hitting clutch shots in February, Mobley controlling the glass — the players who show up decide who leaves with the win. For fantasy managers, that volatility is exactly what makes this rivalry worth tracking.