The Milwaukee Bucks will return home to welcome the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in the second matchup between these teams in five days.
The Bucks recorded their seventh win in the past eight games with a 127-121 victory in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Milwaukee surged ahead in the fourth, thanks in large part to 12 points in the quarter from Kevin Porter Jr. off the bench. Head coach Doc Rivers spoke on Porter’s impact on this team.
“He kept us afloat, that’s the second or third time him and that second unit have kept us afloat. It’s really helping (Damian Lillard) and Giannis (Antetokounmpo), giving them great rest.”
Porter added what it feels like for him to contribute to a winning team.
“I’ve never been on a winning team or organization,” he said. “I don’t know winning ways, so that’s what I’ve been learning here. These guys, the environment, it’s just been team, team, team and I’ve been soaking up the knowledge and wisdom.”
Antetokounmpo led the way for Milwaukee with a 26-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist performance.
Dallas, in turn, lost for the fourth time in the past five games with a 122-98 setback against the Sacramento Kings on Monday night.
The story of this one was yet another major injury for Mavericks, as Kyrie Irving sustained a season-ending torn ACL.
“Just unlucky. The injuries we’ve had this season, guys are trying to hold it together to get other bodies back,” Dallas head coach Jason Kidd said. “We’re running out of bodies here, but guys keep fighting.”
The injury report is the story for the entire Mavericks team. In addition to Irving, Anthony Davis (thigh) could be sidelined the rest of the season, ESPN reported.
Additionally, Dante Exum (foot contusion), P.J. Washington (ankle), Jaden Hardy (ankle), Daniel Gafford (MCL sprain) and Derek Lively II (ankle stress fracture) all have been ruled out for Wednesday. Caleb Martin (hip) is labeled as doubtful.
Kai Jones, who signed a two-way contract on Monday, led the Mavericks with a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds.
Milwaukee’s injury report is much cleaner, with only Pat Connaughton (calf strain), Bobby Portis (suspension) and newly acquired Pete Nance (ankle sprain) missing Tuesday’s game. Kyle Kuzma was questionable with an ankle sprain but managed to play.
Antetokounmpo boasts team-leading averages in points (30.8) and rebounds (12.1), while Lillard leads the assist category at 7.2 per game.
Irving led Dallas with an average of 24.7 points and 4.6 assists per night. Klay Thompson takes over as the veteran leader on the team, and he’s averaging 13.8 points per game.
Milwaukee could sweep the two-game set for the third season in a row with a victory on Wednesday.
The Bucks posted a 132-117 win over the Mavericks in Dallas on Saturday after putting forth a dominant second half.
Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 29 points, nine boards and nine assists, while Irving paced Dallas with 31 points. Lillard added 28 for the Bucks along with six assists.
–Field Level Media
