Cavaliers beat Bucks 94-82

Cavaliers coach Byron Scott knew he had to slow down Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. Cleveland shut down Jennings, but Ellis shredded the defense and scored a season-high 37 points.

"With that backcourt and the type of the firepower they have, you have to slow one of them down," Scott said. "We kept Jennings in check pretty much the whole night. That was a big time key."

Jennings was 3 of 13 from the floor. Ellis was 15 of 27.

Cleveland had all five starters score in double figures, which offset Ellis' performance.

C.J. Miles added 16 points, and Kyrie Irving had 15 for the Cavaliers, playing without starting center Anderson Varejao for the third straight game because of a bruised right knee.

Tristan Thompson had 14 points and 14 rebounds, Tyler Zeller, who started for Varejao, had 11 points and 10 boards. Alonzo Gee finished with 10 points for the Cavaliers.

"We came in with the mindset that we are going to compete for 48 minutes," Irving said. "Once we go out there and perform the way we do, it all speaks for itself."

The Bucks had won the previous nine games against the Cavaliers.

Both teams played Friday night, but Cleveland came out with more energy and led the entire game. The Cavaliers fell to Indiana 99-89 at home one night earlier, and Milwaukee beat Boston 99-94 in overtime on the road.