Irving hurt as Bucks rip Cavs

3/31/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Bucks' Monta Ellis prepares to wrap a pass around Cleveland's Luke Walton in the first quarter, when Milwaukee scored 35 points.
The Bucks' Monta Ellis prepares to wrap a pass around Cleveland's Luke Walton in the first quarter, when Milwaukee scored 35 points.

CLEVELAND -- Brandon Jennings scored 28 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks routed Cleveland 121-84 Friday night, beating the Cavaliers for the sixth straight time.

Cleveland rookie Kyrie Irving scored 29 points before leaving in the fourth quarter with a sprained right shoulder. Irving was 11-for-20 from the field, including 6-for-6 on 3s.

Ersan Ilyasova, who missed Tuesday's game because of back spasms, scored 20 points for the Bucks, while Mike Dunleavy added 16. Jennings and Ilyasova didn't play in the fourth quarter.

Milwaukee took the lead for good early in the first quarter. The Bucks scored the first 16 points of the second period and steadily built the lead throughout the game. Milwaukee's biggest margin was the game's final score.

The Bucks shot 56.8 percent for the game and handed Cleveland its season high-tying sixth straight loss.

Milwaukee, off the previous two days after playing five games in six nights, looked like a rested team.

Cleveland led 10-8 before Milwaukee scored eight straight points. The Bucks, who led 35-26 after one quarter, began the second with their 16-0 run. Dunleavy and Jennings combined to score the Bucks' first 18 points of the quarter. Dunleavy, who hit three 3s, had 11 points during the run. Milwaukee missed its first 3-point attempt of the game, but hit its next eight.

Milwaukee scored 71 points, its highest total in a half this season, and shot 61.4 in the first two quarters. Jennings finished the half with 21 points, while Ilyasova and Dunleavy scored 18 and 14, respectively.

Irving scored 21 points in the first half. Alonzo Gee added 19 for Cleveland, while rookie Tristan Thompson had 15 points and 11 rebounds.