Rick Carlisle’s Dallas Mavericks team didn’t want to go away easily today, but Bud’s Milwaukee Bucks squad finally sent them packing with a loss in this 116-106 victory. It didn’t feel like only a 9-point advantage for the Bucks after one, but the Mavericks were able to somewhat keep pace as Milwaukee led 35-26 on 56% shooting in the quarter. Dallas managed to flip the script in the second, nailing everything from beyond the arc en route to a 59-57 advantage at halftime. Milwaukee found some touch from deep in the third though, taking a 92-84 lead into the fourth. Dallas made it close, but the Bucks were able to to pull away late to take this one.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was a monster within the paint tonight for Milwaukee, as is his custom, displaying strength and finesse en route to 31 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. He kept the Bucks in it through the second when their triples weren’t dropping too.
Brook Lopez was all about the blocks today, registering five for the game while adding a cool 16 points and 10 rebounds to go with it. Milwaukee’s starting lineup carried the balanced scoring effort, with all five hitting double figures. Malcolm Brogdon scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help put this one away though. Eric Bledsoe had 21, including two thunderous dunks.
The Dallas Mavericks needed contributions from everyone up and down the roster to keep this one close, but Luke Doncic led the way with his first career triple double at 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Jalen Brunson and Wesley Matthews combined for 31 points, but went just 12-29 from the field.
Stat that Stood Out
Milwaukee boasts the league’s best free throw shooter, Malcolm Brogdon, who went 6-6 today, but it was still encouraging to see them go 20-22 (90.9%) from the charity stripe today. Giannis, in particular, had a stellar day at 10-12, and those kind of easy points are going to be necessary for a Bucks team that looks to attack the rim so often. Milwaukee had 20 from the line, Dallas had 10; there’s your ballgame, folks.