MILWAUKEE BUCKS (20-13) at MAVERICKS (15-15)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: American Airlines Center, Dallas.
TV: Bally Sports Southwest, NBA TV.
Radio: The Eagle 97.1 FM; Univision Zona MX 99.1 FM (Spanish)
About the Bucks: They are right there with the Mavericks in terms of COVID-19 chaos. Perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the health and safety protocols list, as is Donte DiVincenzo, former Mav Wesley Matthews and big man Bobby Portis. All of them are regulars, starters or stars in the Bucks’ rotation . . . Also, center Brook Lopez is out after back surgery . . . The problems haven’t hurt the Bucks too much. No matter who has been on the court, they are ninth in the league in defensive rating and 10th in total offensive rating . . . But they are like every other team in that they struggle without star. When Antetokounmpo and his 27 points and 11.6 rebounds per game aren’t on the floor, the Bucks are 3-4 this season, including two losses in their last three games . . . They will be on the second night of back-to-back games, having smacked Houston 126-106 in Milwaukee on Wednesday. They got 24 points from Jrue Holiday and 23 from Middleton, which was proof of how much being shorthanded can impact a team . . . Last weekend, they were blown out 119-90 at home by Cleveland. In that game, their starting five was Javonte Smart, George Hill, Sandro Mamukelashvili (bonus points if you can say that three times, or even once), DeMarcus Cousins and Jordan Nwora. Only eight players saw action as usual starters Jrue Holiday, Middleton, Antetokounmpo, Divincenzo and Portis all were sidelined . . . This is the first of two meetings this season. The teams will meet again in Milwaukee on April 3.
About the Mavericks: They are a little hard to recognize these days. About half of typical playing rotation is out under terms of the NBA’s health and safety protocols: Luka Dončić, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke and Josh Green. Add on Willie Cauley-Stein (personal matter) and Eugene Omoruyi (right foot surgery) and the Mavericks are down eight players, all of whom have played significant roles with the exception of two-way player Omoruyi . . . Kristaps Porzingis missed Tuesday’s game against Minnesota, but has been upgraded to questionable for the Bucks’ game . . . In spite of all the absentees, the Mavericks are coming off one of their most inspired wins of the season when they overcame a manpower shortage to beat Minnesota on Tuesday, 114-102. Jalen Brunson, who has been rolling lately. He had 28 points against the Wolves and has scored in double figures in 11 consecutive games, averaging 16.7 points and 5.6 assists. He’s also shot 51.8 percent in that stretch . . . The Mavericks have won three of the last four regular-season meetings with the Bucks . . . Dorian Finney-Smith has raised his scoring average every season and he might do so again for a sixth consecutive year. His recent hot streak has pushed him to 10.2 points per game, a smidge above the 9.8 he averaged last season. He’s averaged 16.8 points in the last four games while shooting 40 percent (10-of-25) from 3-point range.
Twitter: @ESefko
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