Bucks vs. Cavaliers Playoffs Comparison: Summary and Year by Year
Here you can compare, side by side, the all-time postseason performance of the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and how far these two NBA teams advanced in Playoffs each year.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been present in the NBA Playoffs 37 times in 58 seasons while the Cleveland Cavaliers did it 25 times in their 56 seasons. Between the two they total 3 of the 79 NBA championships (3.8%).
The Bucks and the Cavaliers have never met each other in the NBA Playoffs.
On this page, after a summary of their Playoff history (with championships won, playoff appearances and all-time records), you can see, side by side, how far the Bucks and the Cavaliers advanced in the postseason each year. Also, if they met that year, a note with details of the outcome of the series.
Summary of Their Playoff History | ||
Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Playoff Appearances: | 37 (64.9%) | 25 (45.5%) |
| Playoffs Missed: | 20 (35.1%) | 30 (54.5%) |
| NBA Titles: | 2  | 1 |
| Finals Lost: | 1 | 4 |
| All-time Playoff Record: | 153 wins 164 losses (.483) | 136 wins 119 losses (.533) |
| Total NBA Seasons: | 58 1968-69 to present | 56 1970-71 to present |
Head-to-Head in Playoffs | ||
Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Total Series | 0 Playoff Series | |
| Series Won | none | none |
Teams Comparison | ||
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| 2024 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| 2023 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 2022 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ (lost Play-in) |
| 2021 |  NBA Champions | DNQ |
| 2020 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2019 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2018 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2017 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2016 | DNQ | NBA Champions |
| 2015 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2014 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2013 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 2012 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2011 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2010 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2009 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 2008 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| 2007 | DNQ | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2006 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| 2005 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2004 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 2003 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 2002 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 2001 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 2000 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1999 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1998 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1997 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1996 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1995 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1994 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1993 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference Semis |
| 1992 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 1991 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | DNQ |
| 1990 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1989 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1988 | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1987 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1986 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1985 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1984 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1983 | Lost Eastern Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1982 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1981 | Lost Eastern Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1980 | Lost Western Conference Semis | DNQ |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1979 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1978 | Lost Western Conference Semis | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1977 | DNQ | Lost Eastern Conference 1st Round |
| 1976 | Lost Western Conference 1st Round | Lost Eastern Conference Finals |
| 1975 | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1974 | Lost NBA Finals | DNQ |
| 1973 | Lost Western Conference Semis | DNQ |
| 1972 | Lost Western Conference Finals | DNQ |
| 1971 | NBA Champions | DNQ |
| 1970 | Lost Eastern Division Finals | - |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1969 | DNQ | - |
| 1968 | - | - |
| 1967 | - | - |
| 1966 | - | - |
| 1965 | - | - |
| 1964 | - | - |
| 1963 | - | - |
| 1962 | - | - |
| 1961 | - | - |
| 1960 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1959 | - | - |
| 1958 | - | - |
| 1957 | - | - |
| 1956 | - | - |
| 1955 | - | - |
| 1954 | - | - |
| 1953 | - | - |
| 1952 | - | - |
| 1951 | - | - |
| 1950 | - | - |
| Playoffs | Milwaukee Bucks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1949 | - | - |
| 1948 | - | - |
| 1947 | - | - |