3 takeaways from Milwaukee Bucks’ close win over Dallas Mavericks

The Milwaukee Bucks got a sensational performance from DeMarcus Cousins for the second consecutive game

The Bucks have been vastly undersized lately without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, which has placed more burden on DeMarcus Cousins’ shoulders. He took on the challenge in Milwaukee’s recent win over Houston by scoring 18 points while pulling down eight rebounds, and he had to one-up himself just one day later.

Cousins was a massive difference-maker against the Mavericks as he played as aggressively as he has all season offensively. Playing bully ball all night long, he scored a season-high 22 points in the win on 7-of-13 shooting from the field. There were several times throughout the game where the big man was Milwaukee’s only lifeline offensively, giving them a much-needed score as they tried digging themselves out of an early hole. Though he missed three of his four 3-point attempts, the offensive contributions from Cousins were stellar. As usual, his rebounding was up to par also as he grabbed eight on the night, including three offensively.

Aside from his scoring outburst, perhaps the most surprising note from Cousins’ great night was that he dished out four assists in the win. When he was not dominating with his scoring, Cousins made sure to get his teammates involved with some pristine passing, which included a dime to Pat Connaughton out on the perimeter for a triple. He was not done stuffing the stat sheet yet as Cousins also notched a steal and a blocked shot, making his presence felt defensively in addition to the significant damage he did offensively in his 28 minutes of game action.

There is no denying that Cousins has looked great over these past two games as the team has had to rely heavier on him. The veteran has started to find a rhythm after his slow start, and he looks rejuvenated playing for the Bucks. With no timetables given for Antetokounmpo, Portis, or Mamu, Budenholzer may have to continue relying on Cousins moving forward. If he can continue to play at a high level like this, the Bucks will certainly have to consider converting that non-guaranteed deal of his to a standard one. Time will tell, but he is trending in the right direction.