Cleveland @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2019 ) Cleveland 105, Milwaukee 127

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo missed starting the season with consecutive triple-doubles by one assist and the reigning MVP tries to continue his stat-filled start when the Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. Antetokounmpo had a total of 59 points, 30 rebounds and 20 assists during a season-opening 117-111 victory at Houston and a 131-126 overtime loss to Miami on Saturday, but fouled out of both contests.

“I can get a lot better,” Antetokounmpo, who had eight turnovers Saturday, told The Athletic. “As I said in the summer, as long as I believe that I can get better, that’s all that matters. I’m not going to be perfect, but I can get better. It doesn’t matter what people say throughout the league, because a lot of people don’t believe that I can get better. But I do believe that I can get better.'' Cleveland has also split its first two games, losing 94-85 at Orlando on Wednesday and defeating Indiana 110-99 on Saturday for coach Jim Beilein's first professional victory. "I'm very fortunate to have a lot of game balls, but this one is going to be pretty special," Beilein, who coached 27 years at a Division I college - the last 12 with Michigan while reaching a pair of Final Fours, told reporters. "It's an NBA ball No. 1, but anytime you change jobs like this it's a very difficult time on your family, on you and everyone - it's such a transition. It will be special." Milwaukee has won three of the past four meetings by a combined 50 points with Antetokounmpo averaging 35 points, 12 rebounds and 7.5 assists in the two encounters last season.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cleveland), FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (1-1): Tristan Thompson is off to a strong start with a combined 41 points and 24 rebounds, and made the first 3-pointer of his career Saturday on his first attempt since 2016-17. Kevin Love is also fast off the blocks with 32 points, 31 rebounds and 12 assists. “Tristan and I have talked about being positive leaders,'' Love told Cleveland.com. "There’s some things we could look at and say, ‘That was ugly’ and we could get upset about, but we’ve got to play the long game with this. It’s a helluva process. That cliche, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We’ve got to play the long game. If we do that, we’ll be able to stay positive and have that growth mindset.”

ABOUT THE BUCKS (1-1): Milwaukee blew a 21-point lead Saturday before Antetokounmpo fouled out in overtime after extending the game with a tip-in at the regulation buzzer, "Obviously, we've got to learn from (Saturday's) game," Antetokounmpo told reporters. "We were up 21 and we allowed them to come back into the game. We cannot let that happen. Good teams don't let that happen. Definitely, we're going to learn from this." Khris Middleton has 36 points and 12 rebounds this season after scoring 25 against Miami.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Cavaliers PG Colin Sexton has 34 points in two games after the eighth overall pick in the 2018 draft averaged 16.7 during his rookie seson.

2. Monday's contest marks one of Milwaukee's four at home among its first 14 games of the season.

3. The Los Angeles Lakers' Magic Johnson (1981 and 1982), New York's Jerry Lucas (1972) and Cincinnati's Oscar Robertson (1961) are the only players in NBA history to start a season with a pair of triple-doubles.

PREDICTION: Bucks 121, Cavaliers 97