Game lost around 3-point arc
Following a Monday morning shoot-around at the Sports Science Center, new Milwaukee Bucks guard D.J. Augustin said the practice between exhibition games against Dallas had an emphasis: apply more defensive pressure off the pick and roll and make the Mavericks work harder for offense.
The Bucks had mixed results at best with that as the Mavericks were often able to find – and make – open threes time and again in a 128-112 victory Monday night at Fiserv Forum.
Dallas made 22 threes on the night, shooting 47.8% from long range and 46.3% overall.
It began in the first quarter with Dallas star Luka Dončić, as he frequently drew multiple defenders while running the offense, leaving his teammates with open looks behind the three-point arc. They took advantage, hitting 6 of 9 when getting set for a shot (they went 6 for 10 with a buzzer-beating heave) to take a 32-28 lead. They led by as many as 11.
The second quarter, at least, provided something for Milwaukee to draw from.
On Saturday night, the Mavericks’ bench caught fire against the Bucks’ starters in the third quarter.
On Monday, the Bucks’ starters were worked into the action together a few minutes into the quarter and Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo helped the Bucks on an 14-1 run to take a 45-38 lead over
Dallas' bench.
The defensive intensity was more evident for the Bucks as a steal by Donte DiVincenzo and blocks by DiVincenzo and Antetokounmpo helped create offense on the other end, which helped the Bucks take an 11-point lead of their own at one point and score 41 points in the quarter
Milwaukee's bench rotation held serve as the Dallas worked in Dončić and most of his starting teammates, as it took a 69-59 lead into the break.
For the second straight game, the Bucks struggled out of the break.
The Mavericks stretched out Dončić's minutes and the all-NBA forward helped his team open on a 12-2 run to tie the game. Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer and Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle let their top units go headto-head for the better part of eight minutes, and by the time Milwaukee's second unit rotated in with about four minutes to go the Bucks had regained an 8379 margin.
Budenholzer had the starters begin the fourth quarter against Dallas' bench, and that group again gave the Bucks all they could handle by going on a 14-2 run to take a 109-95 lead.
Middleton (13 points) and Holiday (11 points, 6 assists) led the Bucks with 30 minutes played while Antetokounmpo scored 24 in 27 minutes.
The Bucks went 12 for 33 from behind the arc.