There are few, if any, NBA teams happier to put November in the rearview mirror than the Bucks.
Milwaukee went through a most trying month, playing 17 games, which was a franchise high for November. What's more, the Bucks had eight back-to-back games and played a league-high 12 games on the road.
Fortunately for the Bucks, the schedule becomes more manageable in December. They have 14 games in December, and they have only three back-to-back games.
That doesn't mean December will be a stroll in the park. From Dec. 7 through Dec. 19, the Bucks will play six of their seven games on the road, including a three-game West Coast trip against the Lakers, Suns and Warriors.
CAVALIERS 97, BUCKS 85: The Cavs have LeBron James; the Bucks don't. That essentially was the difference in this game Saturday night at the Bradley Center. Every time the Bucks made a run in the waning minutes, James answered. James scored nine consecutive points late in the game to keep the Bucks at bay.
The Bucks trailed 86-81 after a pair of James free throws and had a chance to tighten the game, but Michael Redd missed a 3-pointer. James then followed with a lay-in to put the Cavs comfortably ahead.
Redd led the Bucks with 20 points.
