As they get tossed into the deep end of the NBA pool in the next 10 days, the Mavericks are hoping they can do more than just tread water between now and the All-Star break.
Not that there’s anything wrong with treading water. It means you at least aren’t sinking to the bottom.
Four of their next five games are against top-tier opponents that feel they have a shot at the championship this season, starting with the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday night at American Airlines Center.
After that, it’s a trip to Philadelphia, Brooklyn and New York before returning home against Oklahoma City on Feb. 10.
The good news is that the Mavericks might be closer to a level playing field against these powerhouses.
This is no time to be laid up with a slew of injuries and the Mavericks have an improving report when it comes to their health.
Most importantly, Luka Dončić (right ankle) is not on the injury report going into the Milwaukee game. He missed Wednesday’s visit to Minnesota.
And Kyrie Irving (right thumb) has missed five games with a sprained right thumb, but he has been upgraded to doubtful against the Bucks.
Also doubtful is center Dereck Lively II (broken nose).
Derrick Jones Jr. (left wrist) is questionable and Maxi Kleber (nose) is probable.
Dante Exum has been ruled out with knee soreness.
- The Bucks rattled the NBA world last week when they dismissed coach Adrian Griffin despite being tied for the best record in the Eastern Conference at the time. They hired Doc Rivers and the pressure has been raised in Milwaukee. It’s championship or bust with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard as one of, if not, the best duos in the league.
- Since the shakeup, which happened when they were 30-13, the Bucks have gone 2-3. Rivers coached his first game on Monday (a loss in Denver) and the Bucks also lost at Portland in Damian Lillard’s return against the team for whom he became a superstar.
- The Bucks had their first practice under Rivers on Friday. He said there are a lot of changes being made. “Will we be able to do them (against the Mavericks)? Absolutely not,” Rivers said. “But we’re going to. And, you know, we may screw it up, too. That’s OK. The guys understand that . . . It’s going to take a minute. Doesn’t mean we can’t win (Saturday).”
- Antetokounmpo remains one of a handful of contenders for league MVP, averaging 30.9 points, 11.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and shooting 61 percent from the field.
- Lillard averages 25.1 points and 6.8 assists. He also is perhaps the NBA’s best free-throw shooter at 92.5 percent.
- This is the third of a five-game trip for the Bucks, all against Western Conference opponents.
- The Mavericks have lost five of their past seven and in the two wins, they averaged 139.5 points. In the five losses they averaged 106.2 points.
- Dončić missed Wednesday’s game, but in the six before that, he averaged 41 points, 11.3 rebounds and 11.8 assists. He also averaged 1.7 steals per game.
- The Mavericks are 11-10 in games Irving has missed this season.
- The Bucks are favored by 4.5 points and the over/under is 245.5 points.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (32-16) at MAVERICKS (26-22)
- When/where: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, American Airlines Center, Dallas.
- TV: Bally’s Sports Southwest.
- Radio: 97.1 FM The Freak; 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish).
X: @ESefko
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