The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 135-95, at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

The Cavaliers (24-15) opened the game with a built-in advantage after it was announced that Giannis Antetokounmpo would sit out due to a shoulder injury, and Cleveland wasted no time exploiting that edge during a first half in which it forged a 66-41 lead. Any hope of the Bucks (28-13) mounting a second-half comeback were quickly dashed in the third, when the hosts enjoyed a 42-26 edge that essentially served to put the game away. The Cavs shot 59.1 percent while limiting Milwaukee to a 40.0 percent success rate from the field and also won the battle of the boards by a 55-36 margin.

Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 17 points, adding five assists, two rebounds and two steals. Bobby Portis finished with 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal. Jae Crowder poured in 15 points in his return from a multi-month absence due to a groin injury. Cameron Payne netted 13 points. Brook Lopez registered 11 points, four rebounds, one assist, three blocks and one steal.

Georges Niang paced the Cavaliers with 33 points, complementing them with five rebounds and two assists. Donovan Mitchell turned in 31 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals. Jarrett Allen generated a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double that included three assists and one block. Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill produced matching 10-point contributions while dishing out seven and five assists, respectively.

The Bucks remain on the road and visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday afternoon, while the Cavaliers visit the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.