To illustrate just how weird things have gotten for the Mavericks, they started the second quarter Thursday night with Dorian Finney-Smith and four guys who weren’t even Mavericks 72 hours earlier.
None of them had gone through a practice with their new teammates. Two had just signed contracts earlier in the afternoon before the game against defending NBA champion Milwaukee.
Given all that, the outcome shouldn’t be surprising.
They did not lower expectations, despite their awful circumstances, and were neck-and-neck with the Bucks during the fourth quarter.
But even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee broke free down the stretch and took a 102-95 victory in the Mavericks’ last home game until 2022.
The Mavericks again relied heavily on players who they have signed to hardship 10-day contracts because they have seven players out with COVID-19 safety protocols.
Marquese Chriss is one of them and for the second game in a row played a major role with 13 points and five rebounds.
Unlike Wednesday against Minnesota, this time his efforts went unrewarded.
“It’s a blessing in disguise,” Chriss said of the chance to be with the Mavericks. “It (stinks) that a lot of people are going through it and a lot of people are not being able to play. I know they want to.
“But I’m taking it one day at a time and make the most out of this opportunity just to show what I’m able to do and that I’m healthy and able to contribute.”
He did for the second game in a row. Unfortunately, for the Mavericks, the stretch run was not as kind to them as it was in the 114-102 win Wednesday against Minnesota.
The Mavericks were within 90-87 but Pat Connaughton scored and after the Mavericks couldn’t convert, Jrue Holiday (24 points) hit a 3-pointer for an eight-point Milwaukee lead.
The Bucks were on their way to hitting 10 of their first 14 fourth-quarter shots to go ahead 98-90 with 3:30 to play.
The Mavericks picked a bad time to go chilly from the field and could not forge a rally.
“The guys played hard,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We were in great position tonight against the world champs. We just missed some opportunities. We had good looks, got stops, just couldn’t score there the last five minutes.”
The Mavericks shot just 38 percent in the fourth quarter and were outscored in the paint 12-6. DeMarcus Cousins turned back the clock for 22 points. Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 26.
And so, the Mavericks slid to 15-16 as they hit the road for five games starting Christmas Day in Utah. The trip doesn’t end until Jan. 2 at Oklahoma City.
Their next home game is Jan. 3 against Denver. And their roster will, in all likelihood, continue to be a patchwork with six new players signed over the last three days.
Against the Bucks, they were without 10 players, including Luka Dončić, Tim Hardaway Jr., Maxi Kleber, Reggie Bullock, Trey Burke, JaQuori McLaughlin and Josh Green – all of whom are in health and safety protocols.
Kristaps Porzingis was questionable with his toe injury, but was ruled out before the game. Add on Willie Cauley-Stein (personal matter) and Eugene Omoruyi (right foot surgery) and you get 10 men down.
The Bucks (21-13) had problems of their own. Two-time MVP Antetokounmpo, Donte DiVinCenzo and Bobby Portis, all starters in the past, were all out for the defending champs.
The Mavericks had six players in double figures, led by Jalen Brunson’s 19 points and eight assists. Dorian Finney-Smith had 12 points but both he and Brunson had to play nearly 39 minutes.
“We are playing JB and Dorian past their limits,” Kidd said. “But they’re not complaining. They’re doing everything they can to help the team win.”
The bottom line was that the Mavericks couldn’t cope with Cousins, Middleton and Holiday. Cousins, in particular, was a pain. His 22 points were a season-best.
“He’s been playing well for them,” Kidd said. “He got off to a quick start and then he was able to score in the post. We got to do a better job there. But he scored when he had the opportunity.”
And for the Mavericks, it was the equivalent of another meet-and-greet with their new players.
“When you wake up, you just wonder who’s out,” Kidd said of his new routine these days. “There are certain times that you’re used to: first thing in the morning, you check your phone. And then there’s a time between 2 and 3 in the afternoon, they give you another update of who’s out. So you think you’ve dodged one, you still have to wait for that second test.”
That second test has sent Tim Hardaway Jr. and JaQuori McLaughlin into protocols the last two days.
It’s all part of the new world for the NBA.
Twitter: @ESefko
Share and comment