Milwaukee Bucks: 3 keys to victory when hosting Dallas Mavericks
The Milwaukee Bucks will look to pick up their fourth straight victory when they host the Dallas Mavericks Friday night at Fiserv Forum.
The Milwaukee Bucks will look to add to their three-game winning streak when the Dallas Mavericks come to town Friday night at Fiserv Forum.
After winning their third straight game Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons, the Bucks have gradually settled into their run, have climbed to 8-4 on the season and suddenly stand second in the Eastern Conference.
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Dallas, meanwhile, enters Friday night at 6-4 on the season after beating the Charlotte Hornets 104-93 Wednesday night.
The Mavericks have also been among the growing teams to have been hit by COVID-19-related absences, but it hasn’t yet affected their ability to play games as of this time.
So without further ado, let’s preview the Bucks’ clash with the Dallas Mavericks and look a t three keys that will ensure a Bucks victory.
First key – Slowing down Mavericks superstar, Luka Doncic
There’s no secret to who will be atop of the Bucks’ scouting report going into Friday night.
Third-year Mavericks wing Luka Doncic is at the center of everything the Mavericks do, especially offensively. Per NBA.com/stats, no player has a higher usage percentage than the Slovenian superstar and is averaging a cool 27.4 points per game on .465/.273/.775 shooting, 9.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists nine games into his 2020-21 season.
Milwaukee knows first hand the all-encompassing damage that Doncic can put on his opponents. In Doncic’s lone appearance against the Bucks last season, he posted 36 points on 24 shots (3-for-9 from three) and dished out a whopping 19 assists to power the Mavericks in a 136-132 victory over the Bucks down in the bubble.
Between his sublime playmaking vision and ability to manipulate opposing defenses on the regular, Doncic simply knows how to pull strings from every spot on the floor. And while he isn’t the most consistent shooter, the fact that he can hit shots from well beyond the 3-point line makes it so that you can’t give him too much space or go under on screens.
The Bucks know there is no one answer to limiting Doncic from taking the reins and trying to lead the Mavericks to victory. But we should certainly expect to see plenty of Jrue Holiday on Doncic all throughout the night and how Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer chooses which reserve will see time guarding Doncic could be big in the minutes the Bucks’ cornerstones are getting rest.