Cavs bend but don’t break, top Bucks in home opener

Random dribbles from the Cavaliers’ 118-113 victory over the Bucks in the home opener on Sunday. …

1. This was a battle, a test of wills, and a whole lotta of fun from a basketball standpoint. All the Cavs need to do is put things away when they build a big lead.

2. In this case, that lead was 18 points in the third quarter. Yet Milwaukee charged back and made a real game of it (via some zone defense and a 23-6 run). Sort of like how the Nets fought back the other night in Brooklyn.

3. Nothing to get worked up about. Just an early bad-ish habit. And unlike the Nets, it’s not like the Bucks are supposed to stink.

4. But once again, the Cavs made the winning plays down the stretch, hitting free throws (especially Evan Mobley), getting some stops and just finding a way.

5. Coach Kenny Atkinson suggested his team is still figuring things out, and that makes sense. De’Andre Hunter just came back and Darius Garland and Max Strus are still out.

6. But hey, at least Sam Merrill is on fire these days. He’s still doing his usual dirty work defensively — only now he’s averaging 20.5 points and shooting a sizzling 55 percent on threes. 

7. There’s a reason Atkinson called Merrill “our best player so far.” And when you’re talking about a team with Mobley, Donovan Mitchell and others, that’s really saying something.

8. After a couple of utterly amazing performances in the first two games, Mitchell struggled a little in this one. He still scored a team-high 24 points, though he went just 1-of-8 on threes. No biggie. Just an off night from afar.

9. Mobley added 23, doing most of his damage on free throws — and the Cavaliers (2-1) needed every last one of them. He finished 12-of-12 from the stripe, with 10 of those makes coming in the second half. Four came when the Cavs absolutely had to have them.

10. Hunter was masterful in scoring 16, and Lonzo Ball had his best game as a Cav with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. He just understands the game. The stats will come. Then again, he gave the Cavs everything they really needed.

11. As for Hunter, Atkinson brought up a good point. “We’re just a more physical team (with Hunter),” Atkinson said. “If he doesn’t play, do you win that game? That’s probably up in the air.”

12. Giannis Antetokounmpo was an unstoppable force for the Bucks (2-1). Stop me if you’ve heard that one before. In this one, he erupted for 40 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists. He did it all on 14-of-20 shooting to boot. Goodness gracious.

13. As Atkinson said, Antetokounmpo appears to have taken it up another level early. Or as Atkinson specifically added, “Back to a championship level.”

14. Jarrett Allen tacked on eight points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland. Overall, the Cavs won the battle of the boards, 44-37. 

15. Atkinson on that very topic: “Whatever we emphasize to these guys, they usually respond. We were much better (in that area).”

16. Larry Nance Jr., Dean Wade, Craig Porter Jr., and Jaylon Tyson all made the most of their minutes. They didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but by and large, they did their job.

17. No time to rest, of course. This is the NBA. So right after the game, the Cavs hopped on a plane for Detroit. J.B. Bickerstaff and the Pistons are also 2-1. They also played on Sunday, beating what’s left of the Celtics. Tipoff is 7 p.m. Monday — in both teams’ first game on Peacock.

18. Atkinson with the final word: “How can we be better? How can I adjust the lineups better? … We still have a lot to improve on, a lot to learn.”