Buttler powers England to a 7-wicket win over West Indies in the second T20 for a 2-0 series lead

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP) — England captain Jos Buttler bounced back to form after a months-long injury layoff with a brutal innings of 83 in a seven-wicket win for his team against West Indies on Sunday in the second Twenty20 international.

Buttler smashed six sixes and eight fours in his 45-ball innings as England finished on 161-3 with 31 deliveries to spare and took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

In a major change of fortune, Phil Salt, who hit an unbeaten century in the first T20 which England won by eight wickets on Saturday, was out to the first ball of the tourists' innings. Buttler, who made a first-ball duck in the same match, shook off that setback to top score for England 24 hours later.

Buttler returned to the England team for this series after being out since June with a calf injury and won important tosses in both of the first two matches, allowing England to bowl first and successfully chase.

Buttler helped to propel England past the home team's 158-8. He came to the crease with England 0-1 and put on 129 for England's second wicket with Will Jacks, who made 38 from 29 balls.

Buttler reached his half century from 32 balls. One of the sixes in his innings, off Gudakesh Motie, flew out of Kensington Oval into the surrounding street.

“It's great to spend some time in the middle,” Buttler said. “I was a bit scratchy for the first few balls but managed to come through that. I really enjoyed it. It's great to be back out there.”

Jacks and Buttler both were out in the 13th over as England slipped to 130-3 but Liam Livingstone (23 not out) and Jacob Bethell (3 not out) calmly saw England home. Livingstone finished the run chase with a six from the fifth ball of the 15th over.

Earlier, captain Rovman Powell top-scored with a 41-ball 43 in a mediocre West Indies innings.

The hosts lost three wickets in the power play, as they did in the first match of the series. Once again Saqib Mahmood bowled superbly at the start of the innings, this time in partnership with Jofra Archer who replaced the injured Reece Topley.

Mahmood dismissed Brandon King in the second over of the innings and Roston Chase in the fourth. Archer removed Evin Lewis in the third over as West Indies slumped to 35-3, then 44-3 after the six-over power play.

Nicholas Pooran and Powell stabilized the innings, taking the West Indies to 63-3 after 10 overs. Livingstone claimed a key wicket when he had Pooran stumped for 14 with the total 70.

Livingstone struck again to dismiss Sherfane Rutherford (1) who tried to sweep a ball that turned and was hit on the pad. England successfully reviewed the umpire's decision of not out. Powell and Romario Shepherd, who made 22 from 12 balls, helped boost the total.

The third match of the series will be played at Gros Islet, St. Lucia, on Thursday.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Will Jacks hits for six runs from the bowling of West Indies' Akeal Hosein during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot against West Indies during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Phil Salt plays a shot against West Indies during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's captain Jos Buttler and Will Jacks celebrate runs against West Indies during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Will Jacks hits for six runs from a delivery of Roston Chase during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' captain captain Rovman Powell plays a shot for six runs as England's Phil Salt keeps wicket during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Dan Mousley, left, celebrates wicket keeper Phil Salt taking the wicket of West Indies' captain Rovman Powell during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' Romario Shepherd plays a shot against England during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Dan Mousley, left, celebrates wicket keeper Phil Salt taking the wicket of West Indies' captain Rovman Powell during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford plays a shot against England during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's Jamie Overton takes the catch to dismiss West Indies' Gudakesh Motie during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' Terrance Hinds plays a shot fro four runs as England's Phil Salt keeps wicket during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

West Indies' captain Rovman Powell play against England during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's captain Jos Buttler plays a shot a shot for six runs against West Indies during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

England's captain Jos Buttler throws his bat into the air as he walks off the field, caught by West Indies' captain Rovman Powell for 83 runs, during the second T20 cricket match at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Amid the giggles and the talk of history that filled the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room, Donovan Mitchell tried to add a little perspective about the team's 13-0 start to the NBA season.

“We’re the hunted, but it’s also November,” Cleveland’s star forward said after he had 23 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in the Cavaliers’ 114-106 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night. “Let’s relax. You know, I’m saying its November and we’re not winning a championship right now. But these are good tests for us.”

Cleveland became the first team since Golden State in 2015-16 to win 13 straight to start a season. That Warriors team holds the record for most wins to begin a season at 24 straight.

The Cavaliers are just the sixth team in NBA/BAA history to start 13-0. Four of the previous five teams went on to reach the championship round. It also tied Cleveland’s franchise record of 13 straight wins set three previous times — in 2009, 2010 and 2017 — all with LeBron James.

“It’s an 82-game season and we’re only 13 games in,” said guard Darius Garland, who led Cleveland with 25 points in their latest win. “It’s a lot of stuff that we have to clean up. But it’s a good thing that we can have these wins as well. It’s a good balance that we have right now because we know that we can get a lot better, even though we’re still undefeated.”

Part of the Cavaliers' success has been based on ball movement and scoring. Six Cleveland players — Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Caris LaVert and Ty Jerome- entered play on Wednesday night averaging double figures in scoring.

“We’ve all been able to play a lot of games, and you can be mentally and physically tired,” Mitchell said. “But you have to be able to continue to to the little things for one another. That’s what it’s going to take on a night like tonight (to win).

“You have to be the team that does the little things for one another through those moments and continues to make the right plays.”

Wednesday night turned into more of a struggle than most expected against a short-handed Philadelphia lineup that was missing Joel Embiid (left knee injury maintenance), Paul George (left knee injury maintenance), Tyrese Maxey (right hamstring strain) and backup center Andre Drummond (illness).

It also showed how big of a burden Cleveland is carrying with its winning streak.

“If you were the Sixers coming in, you’re thinking ’We could end the streak,'” Cleveland first-year coach Kenny Atkinson said. “That always motivates players and coaches that you know you can knock someone off their block. I know our players feel it and they’ve talked about it.”

Rookie first-round pick Jared McCain scored a career high 34 points and had Philadelphia within three with just over three minutes to play.

“He came out and showed that he’s got some game,” Garland said. “He is looking for a spot on that team as well. It was good, it was a good showing for all of us.”

That’s when Mitchell got hot, closing the game with 11 points in the final three minutes and just missing his first career triple-double.

“He made those big step-back 3’s,” Atkinson said. “We’ll forgive him (for missing the triple-double).”

After a day off on Thursday, Cleveland will host Chicago on Friday and Charlotte on Sunday before its ultimate litmus test — a Tuesday night game at defending NBA champion Boston.

“We have a mature group and a steady group that doesn’t get too high or too low,” Atkinson said. “They are a humble group. I don’t know if they are reading the media quotes and I don’t think that anyone is pounding the drum or saying how great we are. Donovan is always saying that we haven’t done anything yet, so they understand what we need to do and what the next step is. And they are keeping that chip on their shoulder.”

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers' Jarrett Allen, right, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Guerschon Yabusele during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell (45) passes against Philadelphia 76ers' Adem Bona (30) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland (10) goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Jared McCain (20) and Caleb Martin (16) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell reacts after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)