Cavaliers rely on scoring balance to beat Bucks 112-100 for 14th consecutive victory

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Max Strus had 17 points to lead a balanced scoring attack as the NBA-leading Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 112-100 on Sunday night for their 14th consecutive victory.

The Cavs became just the second team to win 14 straight while scoring at least 110 points in each of those games. The only other time that happened was in 1986, when the Boston Celtics did it on their way to winning a title.

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 30 points and moved into 50th place on the NBA's career scoring list. He increased his career total to 20,077 to pass Tom Chambers, who scored 20,049 from 1981-98.

Damian Lillard added 22 points for the Bucks, who were playing for a second straight night after losing 111-109 at home to the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

Donovan Mitchell had 15 points for Cleveland. Darius Garland and Evan Mobley added 13 each, while Jarret Allen had 11.

The Cavs took the lead for good with 4:15 left in the first quarter and pulled away by going on a 13-0 run that started with about 8½ minutes remaining.

Cavaliers: This game showcased Cleveland's depth. Nobody scored more than 17 points, but eight players had at least nine points.

Bucks: Milwaukee fell to 0-9 against the top three teams in the East: Cleveland, Boston and New York. This loss opened a string of eight consecutive games in which the Bucks face a team with a winning record.

After Kyle Kuzma sank a 3-pointer to cut Cleveland’s lead to 89-84 with 8:55 remaining, Mitchell responded by making a 3-pointer of his own 21 seconds later to start the 13-0 spurt that put the game away.

Cleveland outscored Milwaukee 57-27 from 3-point range. The Cavs went 19 of 47 from beyond the arc. The Bucks were 9 of 31.

Both teams play again Tuesday, with the Cavaliers hosting the Brooklyn Nets and the Bucks visiting Indiana.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Cleveland Cavaliers' Evan Mobley during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard tries to get past Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Cleveland Cavaliers' De'Andre Hunter during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen fouls Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. gets by Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Ty Jerome knocks the ball from Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Mar. 9, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett set the NFL's single-season sack record with 5:09 remaining during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Garrett sacked Joe Burrow for a 6-yard loss on first-and-10 at the Browns 45-yard line. Burrow was in the shotgun formation when he saw Garrett coming and went down.

Garrett came into the game needing one sack to surpass the mark of 22 1/2 shared by Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan (in 2001 with the New York Giants) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt in 2021.

The sack in some ways was similar to Strahan's record-breaking sack of Green Bay's Brett Favre. Both players didn't put up much of a challenge when they saw an oncoming pass rusher.

Garrett's teammates celebrated his 23rd sack even though Cincinnati tried to go no-huddle on the next play.

Garrett has sacked 51 players over his nine-year NFL career. Burrow is at the top of the list at 12 in 10 meetings.

The NFL did not start counting sacks as an official statistic until 1982. Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets had 22 in 1984 until Strahan surpassed that late in the fourth quarter of the New York Giants' 2001 season finale against Green Bay. Favre went down to the ground as Strahan was approaching to set the mark. Watt tied the record during the final game in 2021 at Baltimore by taking down Ravens QB Tyler Huntley.

Garrett has recorded at least half a sack in 11 of 12 games including Sunday. That includes a team-record five against the New England Patriots on Oct. 26, four against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 14 and three one week later at Las Vegas.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) gestures at the line of scrimmage next to safety Grant Delpit (9) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) talks with Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)