MILWAUKEE -- LeBron James knocked down a 3-pointer with 14.1 seconds left that snuffed out a late Milwaukee rally and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched the Central Division title with a 104-99 victory over Bucks on Wednesday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

James finished with 21 points despite scoring just two in the second and third quarters.

Point guard Kyrie Irving scored 17 of his game-high 27 points in the second quarter for the Cavs. He hit 4 of 8 3-point shots and had nine assists in 41 minutes.

Cleveland shot 49 percent from the field and hit 11 of 34 from beyond the arc while outrebounding Milwaukee 44-32.

The Bucks shot just above 50 percent from the field and got 30 from point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who hit 13 of 22 shots and had eight rebounds.

Milwaukee center Zaza Pachulia racked up a double-double, finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds, and shooting guard Khris Middleton connected on two 3-pointers and finished with 16 points.

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dressed for the game but didn't play.

Down eight at halftime, the Bucks made a move late in the third quarter and rode a 12-0 run to cut the lead to three with five minutes left in the quarter. Center Zaza Pachulia converted a three-point play with 2:54 left in the quarter to tie the score at 65, but Cleveland went into the fourth quarter leading 74-72.

Milwaukee took one more lead when guard Jerryd Battles converted a three-point play with 8:04 left, but the Cavs responded with a 14-6 run to go up 97-89 with 3:11 to play.

The Bucks made it a one-possession game in the final minute, but James' 3-pointer and free throws from Irving closed it out.

NOTES: The Bucks have won eight of their last 10 home meetings with the Cavaliers but needed a victory on Wednesday to salvage a split in the season series. ... In three games against Milwaukee this season, Cavaliers PG Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points on 49.1 percent shooting from the field with 5.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals. F LeBron James, in two games against the Bucks, has averaged 27.0 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor with 8.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals. ... Bucks SG O.J. Mayo is averaging 17.0 points on 62.5 percent shooting from the field in three April games, part of the reason that Milwaukee's bench scored 35-plus points in consecutive games for the first time since Feb. 25 and 27.