PREVIEW
MAVS (41-30) VS. BUCKS (55-14)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: The Arena, Orlando
TV: ESPN
Radio: ESPN 103.3 FM; Univision 1270 AM (Spanish)
About the Mavs: So far, the bubble in Orlando hasn’t been very kind to the Mavs. At a time when the Mavs could easily be 3-1 in Orlando, they’re actually 1-3. The Mavs opened up things in Orlando on July 31 by blowing a 14-point lead and losing to the Houston Rockets in overtime, 153-149. And last Sunday the Mavs blew a 15-poont lead and lost to the Phoenix Suns, 117-115. . .The Mavs and Bucks met once earlier this season on Dec. 16 in Milwaukee. And oh what a night it was for the Mavs. Not only did the Mavs snap the Bucks’ massive 18-game winning streak with a 120-116 victory. What was extra impressive about the win was the fact that the Mavs played the game while point guard Luka Doncic was sidelined with a right ankle sprain. That winning streak by the Bucks tied for the 11th-longest winning streak in NBA history. It also was the longest winning streak broken up by the Mavs in their 40-year history. . .Doncic is averaging 29 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 8.8 apg, and also leads the NBA in triple-doubles with 16. In the four games in Orlando, Doncic has two triple-doubles and is averaging 32.8 points, 11 rebounds and 9.8 assists. . .Kristaps Porzingis averages 20 ppg, 9.5 rpg and 2.0 bpg, and Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 15.7 ppg. . .In his four games since the Mavs signed him as a substitute player, Trey Burke averages 13.3 ppg and is shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range. . .The Mavs and their high-octane offense rank third in the NBA in scoring at 116.7 ppg. Seth Curry has missed the last two games with right leg soreness and coach Rick Carlisle said he won’t know until today if the seven-year veteran will be able to play against the Bucks.
About the Bucks: Milwaukee is 2-2 in the bubble and has already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. . .The Bucks are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 29.7 ppg, 13.7 ppg and 5.8 apg and is one of the top two candidates to capture this season’s Most Valuable Player award. In that 120-116 loss to the Mavs back on Dec. 16, Antetokounmpo finished the game with 48 points and 14 rebounds. . .Although the Bucks are just one win – or one loss by the Los Angeles Lakers – away from clinching the best overall record in the entire NBA, they’re not as deep as they were last season when they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals where they won the first two games against Toronto, but dropped the last four and the series to the eventual NBA champion Raptors. . .Khris Middleton (21.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Eric Bledsoe (15.2 ppg, 5.4 apg) and Brook Lopez (11.3 ppg) are next in line as far as the players doing the most damage for Milwaukee behind Antetokounmpo. . .The Bucks are one of the top offensive juggernauts in the league. With Antetokounmpo and his incredible athleticism as their centerpiece, the Bucks are at the top of the charts in the NBA in both scoring (118.7 pgg) and rebounding (51.8 rpg). They also are tied for second in the league in field goal shooting at 47.8 percent. . .Since arriving in Orlando, the Bucks have defeated the Boston Celtics, 119-112, on July 31, then lost to the Houston Rockets, 120-116, last Sunday. After that, the Brooklyn Nets upset Milwaukee, 119-116, this past Tuesday before the Bucks bounced back and derailed the Miami Heat, 130-116, this past Thursday.
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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