NBA · Final

Cavaliers Defeat Bucks 123-116 in Close Contest

123

116

Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · Fiserv Forum

Cleveland Cavaliers 123, Milwaukee Bucks 116, final. Our NBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.

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Quick answers

Who won Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks?

Cleveland Cavaliers beat Milwaukee Bucks 123-116 at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026.

Who was favored in Cleveland Cavaliers vs Milwaukee Bucks?

Cleveland Cavaliers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -625 (about 86% implied). The favorite won.

In a tightly contested game at Fiserv Forum, the Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 123-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, marking their fourth win in five meetings this season. The Cavaliers, boasting a strong away record of 42-27, continued to demonstrate their prowess against the Bucks, who now hold a home record of 28-40.

Cleveland's recent form has been mixed, with a record of 5-5 over their last ten games. They averaged 115.6 points scored and allowed 111.8 points during this stretch, indicating a competitive edge in their scoring despite their recent loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Cavaliers were coming off a defeat but had previously shown resilience, winning against teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers.

On the other hand, the Bucks have struggled significantly, with a record of 2-8 in their last ten games. They have averaged 104.5 points scored while allowing 120.1 points, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities. Despite a recent win against the Indiana Pacers, the Bucks have faced challenges, losing to teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat in their previous outings. Their recent form has been particularly concerning, as they have only managed one win in their last five games, scoring an average of 108.6 points while allowing 123.2 points.

The matchup was further complicated by the injury status of Kevin Porter Jr. for the Bucks, who was listed as Day-To-Day due to a knee issue. His availability could have influenced the game dynamics, particularly given his role in the Bucks' offense.

Historically, the Cavaliers have had the upper hand in their recent meetings, winning the series 3-1. Prior to this game, the Bucks had managed a narrow victory over the Cavaliers on February 26, 2026, with a score of 118-116, but they had lost the earlier encounters in the season by margins of 12 points or more. This ongoing trend of the Cavaliers performing well against the Bucks added an intriguing layer to the matchup.

The betting market reflected the Cavaliers' dominance, with DraftKings listing them as 12.5-point favorites. The total points line was set at 226.5, indicating expectations for a moderately high-scoring game. The moneyline odds also favored the Cavaliers at -625, while the Bucks were listed at +455, further emphasizing the perceived disparity in team strength.

As the game unfolded, the Cavaliers maintained a lead and executed critical free throws in the closing moments, with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden contributing significantly to the scoring. Mitchell's late free throws helped solidify the Cavaliers' lead, while the Bucks attempted to close the gap with Bobby Portis's layup and Porter Jr.'s free throws, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

Overall, the game showcased the Cavaliers' ability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities while the Bucks continued to grapple with their defensive issues. The Cavaliers' victory not only reinforced their position in the league but also highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by the Bucks as they navigate the latter part of the season.

Odds

Book	Spread	Total	Moneyline
DraftKings	CLE -12.5	226.5 o -110 / u -110	Cleveland Cavaliers -625 · Milwaukee Bucks +455

What these prices pay on $100 · What these numbers mean

Injury report

Kevin Porter Jr.Day-To-DayKneeMilwaukee Bucks

Leaders

PointsKevin Porter Jr.25Milwaukee Bucks
AssistsKevin Porter Jr.10Milwaukee Bucks
ReboundsBobby Portis9Milwaukee Bucks
PointsEvan Mobley27Cleveland Cavaliers
AssistsJames Harden6Cleveland Cavaliers
ReboundsEvan Mobley15Cleveland Cavaliers

Recent form

Milwaukee Bucks

Last 10: 2-8Streak W1104.5 scored · 120.1 allowed per game2-5 at home

W134-123vs Indiana PacersMar 15
L99-122at Atlanta HawksMar 14
L105-112at Miami HeatMar 12
L114-129vs Phoenix SunsMar 11
L91-130vs Orlando MagicMar 9
W113-99vs Utah JazzMar 8
L113-131vs Atlanta HawksMar 5
L81-108vs Boston CelticsMar 3
L97-120at Chicago BullsMar 1
L98-127vs New York KnicksFeb 28

Cleveland Cavaliers

Last 10: 5-5Streak L1115.6 scored · 111.8 allowed per game2-3 away

L120-130vs Dallas MavericksMar 15
W138-105at Dallas MavericksMar 13
L122-128at Orlando MagicMar 11
W115-101vs Philadelphia 76ersMar 9
L98-109vs Boston CelticsMar 8
W113-109vs Detroit PistonsMar 4
W106-102at Brooklyn NetsMar 1
L119-122at Detroit PistonsFeb 28
L116-118at Milwaukee BucksFeb 26
W109-94vs New York KnicksFeb 25

Standings

Team	Games behind	Lost	Streak	Win %	Won
Detroit	-	22	W3	.732	60
Cleveland	8	30	W1	.634	52
Milwaukee	28	50	L1	.390	32
Chicago	29	51	L2	.378	31
Indiana	41	63	L2	.232	19

Box score

Stat	Cleveland Cavaliers	Milwaukee Bucks
Field goals	42-86	42-88
Field goal %	49	48
Three-pointers	12-36	20-45
Three-point %	33	44
Free throws	27-34	12-17
Free throw %	79	71
Rebounds	46	39
Offensive rebounds	10	7
Defensive rebounds	36	32
Assists	27	24
Steals	3	3
Blocks	4	6
Turnovers	6	8
Team turnovers	1	0
Technical fouls	0	0
Technical fouls, total	0	0
Flagrant fouls	0	0
Points off turnovers	4	9
Fast-break points	15	0
Points in the paint	56	34
Fouls	20	22
Largest lead	15	5
Lead changes	16	16
Time in front	70	21

How the scoring went

4th Quarter87-89Dennis Schroder makes 1-foot two point shot
4th Quarter88-89Dennis Schroder makes free throw 1 of 1
4th Quarter89-89Evan Mobley makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter90-89Evan Mobley makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter90-91Ousmane Dieng makes 18-foot step back jumpshot
4th Quarter91-91Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter91-93Bobby Portis makes 16-foot two point shot
4th Quarter94-93Donovan Mitchell makes 27-foot three point jumper (Dennis Schroder assists)
4th Quarter94-94Ryan Rollins makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter94-95Ryan Rollins makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter97-95Dean Wade makes 26-foot three point jumper (James Harden assists)
4th Quarter97-97Pete Nance makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter99-97Evan Mobley makes 1-foot dunk (Jaylon Tyson assists)
4th Quarter100-97Evan Mobley makes free throw 1 of 1
4th Quarter100-100Pete Nance makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ryan Rollins assists)
4th Quarter103-100Sam Merrill makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dean Wade assists)
4th Quarter104-100James Harden makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter105-100James Harden makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter108-100Keon Ellis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Max Strus assists)
4th Quarter108-103Pete Nance makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kevin Porter Jr. assists)
4th Quarter110-103James Harden makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot
4th Quarter110-106Ousmane Dieng makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kevin Porter Jr. assists)
4th Quarter113-106Max Strus makes 22-foot three point jumper (Donovan Mitchell assists)
4th Quarter115-106Evan Mobley makes tip in dunk
4th Quarter116-106Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter117-106Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter117-107Kevin Porter Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter117-108Kevin Porter Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter117-109Ryan Rollins makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter117-110Ryan Rollins makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter119-110Evan Mobley makes layup (James Harden assists)
4th Quarter119-111Kevin Porter Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter119-112Kevin Porter Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter120-112Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter121-112Donovan Mitchell makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter121-114Bobby Portis makes driving layup (Kevin Porter Jr. assists)
4th Quarter121-115Kevin Porter Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter121-116Kevin Porter Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
4th Quarter122-116James Harden makes free throw 1 of 2
4th Quarter123-116James Harden makes free throw 2 of 2