Cleveland Cavaliers Team Report - November 7

(Basketball News) - The Cleveland Cavaliers fell to 0-3 on the season on Saturday, as they were dealt a 102-88 setback at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.

The Cavaliers dropped their third straight to begin the 2004-05 season despite a tremendous performance from LeBron James. The second-year sensation racked up 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the loss. Jeff McInnis added 16 points and six helpers.

Cleveland led 70-66 late in the third quarter when Keith Van Horn sunk a 27- footer to put the Bucks within a single point with 1:35 left in the period. After the Cavaliers’ Anderson Varejao was whistled for an offensive foul on the ensuing possession, Michael Redd hit a jumper to give Milwaukee a 71-70 edge. Maurice Williams scored back-to-back baskets as the hosts closed out the stanza with a five-point advantage. The Bucks outscored Cleveland 30-19 for the quarter.

The Bucks then began the fourth with five unanswered points, capped by a Van Horn trey with just over 10 minutes to play, to take an 80-70 lead.

Cleveland whittled its deficit down to seven points with 6:58 to play when McInnis sank one of two foul shots which made the score 84-77. However, consecutive baskets by Erick Strickland, Redd and Van Horn extended the margin to 13 points and the Bucks were never threatened afterward.

James has averaged 26.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in Cleveland’s first three games of the season.

The Cavaliers are off until Tuesday when they visit Al Harrington and the Atlanta Hawks. Last season Cleveland won three of the four meetings between the two clubs.