No refunds – Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo misses game and Cavaliers romp | Jeff Schudel

Takeaways from the game between the Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 17 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The Cavaliers won, 135-95.

• Several fans attending the FieldHouse arrived wearing “34”  jerseys — the number worn by Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were disappointed, however, because “the Greek Freak” didn’t play. He was not on the 4:30 p.m. injury report issued by the NBA, but on the 5:30 report, he was declared out with a right shoulder contusion.

Most fans were already making their way downtown by the time the report on Antetokounmpo broke, and it wouldn’t have mattered anyway because they had already purchased their tickets. Fans are not offered refunds just because the player they paid good money to see doesn’t show. It’s always buyer beware.

The Bucks’ last game before playing the Cavaliers was a home game against Sacramento on Jan. 14. Antetokounmpo played 40 minutes, scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 10 assists — a routine triple-double for him. They don’t play again until Jan. 20.

I am not suggesting Antetokounmpo was faking the injury, but this is precisely why NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discourages teams from resting their star players; fans feel cheated.

The Cavaliers took advantage of Milwaukee’s dilemma and ran roughshod over the Bucks. They led, 108-67, after three quarters and finished Milwaukee off in the fourth quarter to win by 40 points, 135-95, to extend their longest winning streak of the season to six games.

• The usual stars came through for the Cavaliers. Donovan Mitchell scored 12 points in the first 4:19 to spark a 20-2 lead before the Bucks called their second timeout. They called their first timeout when the score was 9-2.

Mitchell had 31 points in 26 minutes by the end of the third quarter. With the Cavs in total control he was given the rest of the night off. Mitchell averaged 36.7 points a game in his last three games, including the contest against the Bucks.

Jarrett Allen scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 26 minutes in the first three quarters and then got the rest of the night off. The Bucks obviously missed Antetokounmpo, but the Cavs weren’t 100 percent, either. They have been without Darius Garland (fractured jaw) and Evan Mobley (knee surgery) for more than a month. They are 11-3 without Garland and Mobley.

• Fans like the stars on the team, but they also pull for their favorite bench players as they did when Matthew Dellavedova played for the Cavs from 2013-16 and again from 2018-21. Delly always played with heart even if he wasn’t the most athletic player on the floor. Fans fed off his energy. Now 33 years old, Dellavedova is playing for the Sacramento Kings and averaging 6.7 points a game.

Georges Niang is the Matthew Dellavedova of the 2023-24 Cavaliers. He came off the bench to score a career-high 33 points against the Bucks. He was five of six on 3-pointers. His previous high was 24 points.

• The Cavs collectively were 12 of 28 on 3s after launching 57 three-pointers against the Bulls on Jan. 15. Without Antetokounmpo in the paint to worry about, the Cavs converted 55 of 93 shots (59.1 percent) and outrebounded the Bucks, 56-36. They dished out 36 assists compared to 19 for the Bucks.

CAVALIERS AT HAWKS

When: 7:30 p.m., Jan. 20

Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta

Records: Cavaliers 24-15, Hawks 17-23

TV: Bally Sports Ohio