The Dallas Mavericks (13-11, 10-3 Home) will try to break down the NBA’s top shooting defense when they play host to the Milwaukee Bucks (18-6, 6-3 Away) on Friday. Milwaukee beat the Sacramento Kings 126-113 at Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, their third consecutive win. Giannis Antetokounmpo was a top performer with 35 points and seven assists.
The Bucks are the second seed in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Boston Celtics. Dallas won their third in a row in a close one on Tuesday at Ball Arena, beating the Denver Nuggets 116-115. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 29 points to lead the team. The Mavericks are the seventh seed in the Western Conference.
It’s the final meeting of the season between the teams. Milwaukee will be looking for a season sweep against Dallas after getting the win in the only previous meeting 124-115 at Fiserv Forum on November 27. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 30 points, while Grayson Allen contributed 25 points.
Luka Doncic had 27 points and 12 assists in the loss.The Bucks have been led this season by Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 32.1 points per game, best in the league. Antetokounmpo also has grabbed 11.1 rebounds per game, most in the league. Meanwhile, Jrue Holiday is dishing 7.4 assists.
Doncic has powered the Mavs’ offense, averaging 32.9 points per game. He has the No. 1 scoring average in the NBA. Doncic has also tallied 8.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game, for which he ranks first and first in the NBA, respectively.Holding foes to only 44.6% from the field, the Bucks are the toughest FG% defense in the NBA.
The Bucks have come up short in recent visits to American Airlines Center, losing seven of the last 10. Milwaukee is looking for a fourth successive win away from home this season.
In the last 10 games, Milwaukee is 7-3 with an average margin of +5.0 (115.3-110.3). Dallas has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 115.9 points per game on average while allowing 112.1 (+3.8 margin).
BUCKS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points per game:
Jrue Holiday: 24.5 | 18.9 | +5.6
MAVERICKS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Tim Hardaway Jr.: 30.6 | 17.8 | +12.8
Points per game:
Tim Hardaway Jr.: 24.4 | 13.3 | +11.1
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Dallas Mavericks (-105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
