Prosper making the most of his opportunities

MILWAUKEE – As the injuries unfortunately stack up for the Dallas Mavericks on the front line, so too have the minutes stacked up for Olivier-Maxence Prosper.

Previously out of the rotation primarily due to the talent in front of him, Prosper has found himself squarely in the middle of the rotation due to injuries to players in front of him. And that suits him just fine.

Since Feb. 2, Prosper has put together three games where he’s scored at least 10 points and five games where he’s grabbed at least four rebounds. Prior to that this season he only had three games with 10 or more points and eight games with four or more rebounds.

However, with injuries to centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and forwards Anthony Davis and PJ Washington, Prosper has seen more playing time come his way, and he’s been delivering the goods.

“I’m definitely getting more comfortable out there,” Prosper told Mavs.com. “Overall, with all the injuries that we’ve had, I’ve had an opportunity, and now it’s just about building from there.

“But I feel really good about what I’ve been able to do defensively. I guard the (centers) more, but I feel more comfortable out there, I feel more poised out there with my decision-making, and that’s how you gain a rhythm. And I’m gaining just a little more and more rhythm, and I feel good out there.”

Since he’s only 6-7 and 230 pounds, guarding players three-to-six inches taller than him – and 40-60 pounds heavier – has been extra challenging for Prosper.

“They’re definitely taller than me, but I’ve got to use my quickness and my agility to my advantage against them,” he said. “Are they going to be bigger than me? Yeah.

“Then, I’ve got to find a way to stop them by getting lower and trying to get in position before they get the position on me. And then I try to use my advantage, which is my quickness and my speed and my length to my advantage, so that’s what I’ve been doing. It’s really just fighting in there, and that’s why I’ve been able to still have success fighting those guys.”

Coach Jason Kidd has noticed the all-out fight and determination Prosper has brought to the court every game.

“He’s been really positive for us when he’s been in the game,” Kidd said. “And we’re going to continue to need him with his energy and his effort.”

With all the Mavs’ centers and power forwards on the injury list at the same time recently, things shifted in a different direction in terms of how they were able to perform on both ends of the floor.

“It’s definitely not something we imagined, having this kind of season, but that’s where we are,” Prosper said. “And I feel like we’re still very confident in our ability to win against anybody, regardless of who’s in the lineup.

“Now it’s been like that for a week or two with no big and I think everybody is getting more and more comfortable with the lineup that we have. If it’s going to be five smalls, then let’s use that to our advantage and let’s play with more pace and run the floor.”

Whenever the injured players return, Prosper said it affords the Mavs the opportunity to have a deeper bench, since the players who normally don’t play much have suddenly found themselves right in the middle of the rotation

“It’s going to help because we’re going to get the experience when those guys come back, then we’ll have an even deeper team that has the experience to play,” he said. “So, whenever there’s a situation we need to be in, anybody can come in and contribute.

“All the experience that I have now is only going to help me down the line. Even when the guys come back we still feel like anybody can step in and help this team win, which gives us a big advantage because were so deep.”

Here are some other nuggets surrounding Wednesday’s game between the Mavs and Bucks.

*This is only a one-game road trip for the Mavs before they return home to host Memphis on Friday and Phoenix on Sunday. After that, the Mavs will play two games in San Antonio on Monday and March 12.

*For the Bucks, this is the opener of a three-game home stand which continues Saturday against Orlando and Sunday against Cleveland.

*Centers Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Daniel Gafford (right MCL sprain) are all out for the Mavs for Wednesday’s game, as are forwards Anthony Davis (strained left adductor) and PJ Washington (right ankle sprain), and guard Kyrie Irving (torn left knee ACL). Forward PJ Washington (right ankle sprain) and guard Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) are listed as day-to-day. Lively, Davis, Irving and Washington are all starters for the Mavs. Irving suffered his injury during Monday’s 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings. Irving is averaging 24.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 4.6 apg, while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from beyond the three-point arc and 91.6 percent from the charity stripe. Irving is the lone NBA player averaging at least 20 ppg and shooting at least 40 percent from three-point range and at least 90 percent from the free throw line this season.

*The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo is second in the NBA in scoring (30.9 ppg) and sixth in rebounding (12.1 rpg). Damian Lillard is averaging 25.4 ppg and 7.3 apg, Kyle Kuzma averages 14.8 ppg and 7.5 rpg, and Brook Lopez is averaging 12.7 ppg.

*The Mavs lost to the Bucks in Dallas this past Saturday, 132-117, behind 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Antetokounmpo, and 28 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals from Lillard. Also, Gary Trent Jr. came off the bench to pour in 20 points

DALLAS MAVERICKS (32-30) at MILWAUKEE BUCKS (34-25)

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee

TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream

Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @DwainPrice