MILWAUKEE. After last season's success, one in which they made the playoffs and gave the Chicago Bulls a run for their money in the opening round, the Milwaukee Bucks welcomed the 2015-16 campaign with greater expectations.
Unfortunately, the Bucks stumbled out of the gates this season and lost their first three games, including an embarrassing 122-97 blowout at the hands of the New York Knicks last October 28 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
The Bucks have since righted the ship and last Saturday night, in front of a boisterous home crowd of 18,717 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in downtown Milwaukee, the team got a major confidence boost by beating the defending Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers in double overtime, 108-105.
LeBron James was spectacularly great, firing up 37 points to lead all scorers, but the Bucks countered LeBron's firepower adequately as Jerryd Bayless and Michael Carter-Williams accounted for 17 points apiece.
A moment of silence was held for the victims of the Paris attacks and a tribute was paid as well to the City of Lights by playing the French National Anthem in addition to the Star-Spangled Banner.
When the action commenced, Milwaukee got off to a fast start with Greg Monroe controlling the glass and Giannis Antetokounmpo showing his athleticism by slamming home a put-back jam that got the partisan crowd on its feet in the early going.
LeBron assumed the role of facilitator and Kevin Love scored 12 of the team?s first 20 points, leading to a 23-23 standstill after one quarter of play.
Sloppy play marked the second and third quarters as Cleveland ended up with 20 turnovers against 21 assists by game's end. Milwaukee took a 9 point lead into the fourth before Richard Jefferson came alive for the Cavs, scoring eight points to keep Cleveland afloat.
The Bucks led for most of the final quarter before LeBron tied it on an open lane dunk, sending the game into overtime after Bayless missed a contested jumper that could have won the game outright for the Bucks.
Milwaukee eventually prevailed in double overtime, ending the Cavs' streak of eight straight victories.
Besides the win, which improved their record to 5-5, the Bucks got an added boost as Jabari Parker, who is returning from a torn ACL that sidelined him for most of last season, looked very healthy and good.
With their 0-3 start a distant memory, things are looking up for these young Bucks.
Photo: Jerryd Bayless (L) had 17 points on Saturday to aid the Milwaukee Bucks in beating LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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