Saturday was a foul night all the way around for the Mavericks.
With whistles blowing relentlessly, the Mavericks couldn’t find a way to stop the Milwaukee Bucks without fouling them and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard orchestrated a 132-117 victory over the Mavs at American Airlines Center.
Things were going along just swell in the second quarter with the Mavericks up by 10 points. But things went haywire as the Bucks went on a 36-12 that bridged halftime and ultimately coasted to a strong win.
The teams combined to shoot 60 free throws, 35 of them by the Bucks.
“We got them to the free-throw line early,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Rebounding, and you can add shooting. We didn’t shoot the ball well. And then we got the fouling and the rebounding. That can hurt you.”
All of the above certainly did hurt them.
The Mavericks were outrebounded 52-33. The Bucks outshot the Mavericks, particularly in the middle quarters, when they outscored the Mavericks 70-43.
The Bucks used Antetokounmpo as a playmaker much of the time and he responded with a huge night.
The one-two punch of Lillard and Antetokounmpo gouged the Mavericks for a combined 59 points. And the Greek Freak had nine rebounds and nine assists to go with his 29 points.
“They have a good team,” Kidd said. “If you’re going to go zone, you can’t give them a catch and shoot. They’re one of the best teams in the league at catch-and-shoot. They found the corners and we fouled shooters.
“When Giannis is a playmaker, he causes a problem because he can score and he can pass. And he did those two things at a very high level. It puts a lot of pressure on your defense to be tied together. You got to give second and third efforts and we just didn’t do that on a consistent basis. Giannis controlled the paint and he knocked down all his free throws.”
The Mavericks, who got 31 points from Kyrie Irving but shot just 27.5 percent (11-of-40) from three-point range, will finish this three-game stay at AAC on Monday against Sacramento, one of the teams that they are battling for seeding position in the Western Conference.
Asked if, with 21 games left in the regular season, some of these games now feel like must-win situations, Klay Thompson said: “Absolutely. We got to string together a lot of wins, especially until we get whole again. I know we’re capable. We just got to stay present and win as many home games as possible.”
It was a whistle-happy game with both teams parading to the free-throw line throughout. But after the Bucks went up 101-78 late in the third quarter, the Mavericks were unable to make any real headway the rest of the way.
They never got the lead below 12 in the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks’ problems started when they led 53-43 midway through the second quarter in what was very much a defense-optional first half. But the Bucks would hit a groove that took them to a 67-62 lead late in the half and eventually ended with them ahead 71-63 at the intermission.
It didn’t help that in the third quarter, they lost P.J. Washington, who departed with soreness in his right ankle. He had missed Thursday’s game with the injury.
The Mavericks remained without Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford. That has opened the door for 10-day signee Moses Brown to shine.
“He had 10 days to show what he could do and he’s done that for us,” Kidd said. “He helped us win a game. Now, for him to go to the next team, I hope he has the same success. Hopefully not when we’re playing against him.”
Because of financial constraints, the Mavericks cannot offer Brown a second 10-day deal because they are up against the first apron of the salary cap at roughly $178-million.
Brown started for the second game in a row and while he couldn’t duplicate his 20-point, 11-rebound game on Thursday against Charlotte, he wasn’t far from it. He finished with 18 points and nine boards and had a nice lefty jump-hook late in the first half.
Before the game, Bucks’ coach Doc Rivers had said there is no way to know just what the Mavericks have in terms of what their final product will look like. Too many injuries make that impossible, he said.
“I don’t know yet,” Rivers said. “Watching them on film, obviously they don’t have AD, they don’t have some of their bigs, so we all have to wait until they’re all together. Obviously, with Luka (Doncic) and with Kyrie, they were a lot of isolation, lot of pick and rolls and they were the playmakers. That’s going to be different, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Mavericks play smaller in their current state. But Rivers couldn’t help but spotlight Irving’s contributions.
“They obviously can’t be as physical because they have guys out,” Rivers said. “Kyrie has been phenomenal in these non-Luka games and when Luka was there. He’s really done a hell of a job keeping them together.”
Briefly: Kidd said that the Mavericks are hopeful that Caleb Martin will be able to make his Mavericks’ debut soon. Martin was acquired before the trade deadline from Philadelphia for Quentin Grimes. “There’s a lot of positive things around him right now,” Kidd said. “He’s trending in the right direction. Hopefully here in the next couple days we’ll have some really good news. His rehab sessions have been going really good and he hasn’t had any setbacks. Hopefully he’s back here sooner than later.” Martin has been out with a hip injury but has resumed practicing and is schedule to have a scrimmage on Tuesday. Assuming he comes out of that with no issues, he could see came action later in the week . . . The Mavericks finish their three-game stay at AAC on Monday against the Sacramento Kings, who may or may not have Domantas Sabonis, who exited Saturday’s game in Houston in the first quarter with a left hamstring injury and did not return.
X: @ESefko
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