Donovan Mitchell's game-winning goal against the Bucks extends the Cavs' winning streak to seven games, 114-113

When the lights shine brightest, the largest stars emerge. In a moment that required resilience, with the clock ticking and the game on the line, Mitchell seized the spotlight.

The Cavaliers trailed by a point with 9.1 seconds left after Damian Lillard, known for his late-game heroics, hit a 14-foot step-back jump shot to electrify the Milwaukee crowd. The noise in the Fiserv Forum was deafening, as if the game had been sealed.

But Mitchell wasn't about to let the night end there. With ice in his veins, he picked up the ball and all eyes in the building were on him. Facing a stifling defense, Mitchell fumbled the ball and quickly recovered for a 19-foot pull-up jump shot that seemed to momentarily hang in the air. As it swept through the net, the crowd's outburst turned to stunned silence. Mitchell had responded to Lillard's defining moment with one of his own, silencing the Milwaukee faithful and giving the Cavs a thrilling victory.

Mitchell finished with 30 points on a night that began as a challenge. Jarrett Allen also scored a crucial 15 points and 12 rebounds while battling in interior defense.

Milwaukee charged forward from the start, fueled by Lillard's shooting from distance, with the All-Star guard drilling three three-pointers in quick succession. Cleveland found itself in trouble, momentarily distracted from the structured offense that had been the key to its undefeated start. The Cavs responded by scoring three points themselves and trying to match Milwaukee's pace and firepower – a tactic that quickly backfired.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson took a much-needed timeout after the Bucks scored nine straight points and asked his team to refocus on what got them to this point in the season: defense and discipline.

After that timeout, the Cavaliers came into the game. Defensively, they increased rotations, closed passing lanes and began to dictate the tempo. After allowing 38 points in the first quarter, the Cavs' defense came through hard, holding Milwaukee to under 25 points in both the second and third quarters. This defensive stance allowed the Cavs to recover and enter the final quarter with a narrow three-point lead.

Although Lillard scored 41 points, Isaac Okoro's tireless defense forced him to take tough shots and disrupted Milwaukee's rhythm. Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a 34-point game, but Cleveland's game plan kept the secondary at bay. The Cavs forced the Bucks into double-digit turnovers and effectively limited their offensive possessions in the final stretch.

The Cavs' scoring took a balanced approach: six players scored in double figures, while Milwaukee had four.

Atkinson emphasized an egalitarian offense and defense where every player on the field can impact the game. Saturday's win showed how Cleveland's squad buys into that vision, adapting and executing in the middle of the game. The Cavs' disciplined response to adversity, from defensive rotations to timely contributions from role players, is becoming a hallmark of Atkinson's system.

As the Cavaliers look to the future, their undefeated streak has more than just numerical significance; it reflects a newfound resilience. At 7-0, this start not only represents a strong record, but also a team that, even in difficult matches and hectic schedules, finds ways to play its own game and emerge victorious.