Final: Bucks 109, Mavs 102
Box Score | Highlights
Behind the Box Score
This was J.J. Barea’s eighth straight game with at least six assists, which is his longest streak since rejoining the Mavericks during the 2014-15 season.
Dallas has now held a lead at halftime in six of its last seven games. The lone exception was against Brooklyn on Nov. 29, when the Mavs trailed by just one point. The Mavericks have also led heading into eight of the last 10 fourth quarters.
Notebook
Wesley Matthews scored a season-high 22 points against Milwaukee in these two teams’ first meeting of the season, and he put together a magnificent performance tonight, scoring 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting. Matthews grew up in Madison and played his college ball at Marquette, which is just a few minutes away from the arena; this is almost a home game for him. He looked extremely comfortable tonight and had everything going, from his long ball to left-handed floaters. Playing without Dennis Smith Jr., the Mavs needed someone who could create dribble penetration and open things up for shooters. Little did we know it would be Matthews, known more for being able to capitalize on those drives than creating them himself.
Tonight was another stop on the Maxi Kleber Does Good Stuff tour. He started it off with a simple give and go with Harrison Barnes.
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Then continued it by following his own shot and going back up strong, resulting in a goaltend.
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These are not insane plays. In fact, they’re very easy. But sometimes the simple plays aren’t always the easiest to make, if that makes sense. Things like “give and go” and “follow your shot” are things we’re all taught when we’re seven years old. They’re the most fundamental plays in the game. But in an NBA game there are so many other things going on that it’s very easy at times to lose sight of the simple stuff. Kleber’s veteran wits, if such a trait exists, has really been fun to watch in the last few games. All the dunks and blocks have been great too for sure, but he’s stood out so much because he combines those highlight-reel plays with the boring good stuff that lifts up the entire offense.
Rookie point guard Dennis Smith Jr. missed the game due to a left hip strain he suffered after falling into a cameraman Wednesday night in Boston. Head coach Rick Carlisle ruled Smith out at least for this game and Sunday’s in Minnesota, too, although the 20-year-old wasn’t ready to accept missing the game against the Wolves, jokingly saying “we’ll see” when asked if he’s out for Sunday. Every player wants to play every game, of course, but it isn’t really Smith’s choice. He and the Mavs will do what’s best for him long-term, and if that means missing another game, so be it. Meanwhile, center Nerlens Noel underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb Friday afternoon in Cleveland and will soon return to Dallas. This was the first game he’s been inactive since suffering the injury, but he’s been listed on the injury report for a couple weeks now and the Mavericks have said they were aware the procedure was coming. Stay tuned for update on timetables for both to return to action.
What’s Next
The Mavs (7-19) will play the Minnesota Timberwolves (15-11) on Sunday at the Target Center at 6 p.m. Central.
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