PREVIEW
Mavericks (0-0) at Milwaukee Bucks (0-0)
Time: 7 p.m., Saturday
TV: Streaming on Mavs.com
Radio: None
About the Mavericks: This is the preseason opener for the Mavs, who will also play in Milwaukee on Monday before finishing their three-game preseason schedule at home on Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. . .The Mavs finished last season with a 43-32 record and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Mavs lost their first-round playoff series to the Los Angeles Clippers in six games. . .This will be the Mavs’ fans first chance to see rookie small forward Josh Green, who was the team’s first-round draft pick last month. Drafted No. 18 overall out of Arizona, Green averaged 12 ppg and 4.6 rpg in 30 games in his only year for the Wildcats last season. . .This also is the return of point guard Luka Doncic, who had an amazing season last year. Doncic led the NBA in triple-doubles last year with 17, and averaged 28.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 8.8 apg. He joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the only players to average at least 28 ppg, 9.0 rpg and 8.0 apg in a season. In addition, Doncic started in last February’s All-Star game and was named first-team all-NBA. . .Other newcomers for the Mavs include veterans Josh Richardson, James Johnson and Wes Iwundu, and rookies Tyler Bey, Freddie Gillespie, Nate Hinton, Devonte Patterson and Tyrell Terry.
About the Bucks: Milwaukee is coming off, by their standards, a disappointing season. Last year the Bucks finished the regular season with an impressive 56-17 record, which turned out to the best record in the entire NBA. But by the time the playoffs started, the Bucks unceremoniously lost to the Miami Heat in five games in the second round of postseason play. . .Milwaukee is led by forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has won the past two NBA’s Most Valuable Player awards, and also averaged 29.5 ppg, 13.6 rpg and 5.6 apg last season. At times, Antetokounmpo appears to be unstoppable. . .Khris Middleton, a small forward from Texas A&M, is coming off a season where he averaged 20.9 ppg and 6.2 rpg, and shot 49.7 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point land. . .Point guard Jrue Holiday was the Bucks’ huge offseason acquisition and was brought in to help stabilize the backcourt. Holiday spent the past seven years with the New Orleans Pelicans and averaged 19.1 ppg and 6.7 apg last season. . .The Bucks also acquired D.J. Augustin, Bobby Portis, Bryn Forbes and Torrey Craig over the offseason. . .Louisville rookie forward Jordan Nwora was drafted by the Bucks on the second round.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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