Evan Mobley scores a career-high 38 points as Cavaliers defeats Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo

There have been flashes of brilliance from Evan Mobley, tantalizing moments that convinced the Cavaliers he will dominate. On Saturday night, he set it all up.

Mobley scored a career-high 38 points, Darius Garland added 21 and Cleveland bounced back from an embarrassing loss with a 114-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who again were without injured star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Mobley made sure the Cavs shook off their dismal performance in a 120-114 loss last night to the Golden State Warriors, who beat Cleveland despite Stephen Curry and three other starters resting.

The 21-year-old Mobley finished 19 of 27 from the field and had his best performance as a pro without making a free throw or 3-pointer. He added nine rebounds.

“That’s exactly what we want to see from (number) 4,” Garland said, referring to Mobley’s jersey. He is aggressive. Him just finding his pocket and doing what he does best. I would love to see that every night.

Mobley is only the fourth player since 1979, when the 3-point line was adopted, to score at least 38 points without making a free throw or 3-pointer. Hakeem Olajuwon, Alex English (twice) and George Gervin are the others.

“He was aggressive,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said. ‘He was assertive. He had attack mentality. He was creating for himself and his companions felt it rolling. I don’t think this is what he’s capable of.

Mobley scored 12 of Cleveland’s first 15 points in the quarter and the Cavs, without star Donovan Mitchell because of a groin strain for the third straight game, went on a 12-2 run to part ways with the Bucks.

Garland added 10 assists for Cleveland.

Drue Holiday scored 28 and Bobby Portis Jr. added 23 for Milwaukee, which played its fifth straight game without Antetokounmpo. The two-time MVP is nursing a sore left knee.

The Cavs have been urging Mobley to look to score more often, and he didn’t back down against the Bucks, who opted to stick closer to Garland. The 7-foot Mobley worked his way to the basket and hit several mid-range jumpers in the lane.

“He scored in a lot of different ways,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. He did everything. He did a little of everything. He did some things, really, everywhere. Mobley made the plays.

Injuries to Antetokounmpo and three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton, who hasn’t played since Dec. 15 because of soreness in his right knee, have prevented the Bucks from building continuity.

Still, they have remained among the best teams in the East.

Budenholzer said Antetokounmpo hasn’t suffered any setbacks. The 28-year-old has been able to participate in 5-on-5 training in recent days and his availability is literally daily.

Budenholzer stressed that the decision to sit out is a collaborative effort, but ultimately it’s up to Antetokounmpo if he’s ready to play.

HORNETS 122, HAWKS 118

Terry Rozier made three shots with 1.1 seconds remaining, and Charlotte overcame a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to end Atlanta’s five-game winning streak.

Clint Capela targeted Trae Young’s missing runner with 5.4 seconds left for Atlanta, but Rozier, who scored 16 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, was fouled by Jalen Johnson and buried the next few free throws to win.

The Hornets, playing without injured leading scorer LaMelo Ball, have won two in a row after losing eight of nine. They entered the game 12-34, next to last in the Eastern Conference. They were their first back-to-back wins since late November.

Mason Plumlee finished with a season-high 25 points and PJ Washington scored 12 of his 23 in the quarter.

Trae Young made one of his last 12 shots and scored 25 points. Dejounte Murray scored 26 points and De’Andre Hunter had a season-high 26 for Atlanta.

WIZARDS 138, MAGIC 118

Rui Hachimura matched a career high with 30 points and Kyle Kuzma added 25 to lead Washington over Orlando.

Bradley Beal scored 17 points in his second game back from a hamstring injury, though Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle.

Porzingis scored 17 points.

The Wizards won their second straight game with Beal back, and he had eight assists on the night, but now they have another injury to deal with. Porzingis limped through the tunnel after injuring his ankle and did not return.

Markelle Fultz led the Magic with 23 points. Franz Wagner contributed 20 and Paolo Banchero scored 15.

TIMBERWOLVES 113, ROCKETS 104

Anthony Edwards scored a season-high 44 points, D’Angelo Russell added 23 and Minnesota handed Houston its 13th straight loss.

Edwards topped 40 points for the first time this season on 17-of-29 shooting from the field, including seven 3-pointers. Nathan Knight provided a spark off the bench, scoring a season-high 19 points.

Houston’s Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, capitalizing on a Timberwolves team that was without Rudy Gobert (sore right groin) for the third straight game. Sengun made his first seven field goals and was the catalyst for Houston to outrebound Minnesota 56-30.

SOLES 112, PACERS 107

Josh Okogie had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Mikal Bridges added 22 points and the Phoenix Suns won their second straight game, beating the Indiana Pacers 112-107 on Saturday.

Indiana had a chance to tie it on their final possession, but Buddy Hield missed a rushing 3-pointer with two seconds remaining. The Pacers lost despite a triple-double by TJ McConnell, who had 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.

Phoenix and its motley roster took an 87-83 lead in the fourth quarter. Once again, the Suns were missing a large chunk of their all-star lineup, including All-Star backcourt Chris Paul and Devin Booker. Starting center Deandre Ayton was out with a non-COVID-19 illness.

CELTICS 106, RAPORES 104

Grant Williams scored a career-high 25 points, Jaylen Brown had 27 and the Boston Celtics overcame the absence of leading scorer Jayson Tatum to extend their winning streak to nine games by beating the Toronto Raptors 106-104 on Saturday.

Boston’s injury problems worsened when guard Marcus Smart sprained his right ankle in the final minute of the first half and had to be helped to the locker room. He didn’t come back.

Center Robert Williams remained in the game after Brown collided with his left knee in the first quarter. At half time, Williams was ruled out for the second half with a hyperextended knee.

76ERS 129, REYES 127

Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 32 points remaining and six assists in a 129-127 point win against the Sacramento Kings.

Georges Niang, Daniel House JR. and Tobias Harris all game with even numbers on the scoreboard after the trio finished the night with 17 points. Shaq Milton came close to doing the same with 15 points off the bench.

The close game came down to a guard battle as Kings guard De’Aaron Fox finished the game with 31 points and nine assists as Sacramento failed to extend their winning streak to seven games.