Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 57 points as the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Dallas Mavericks 132-117 on Saturday night.
Antetokounmpo nearly recorded a triple-double with 29 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Lillard added 28 points and six assists. Milwaukee improved to 34-25 and secured fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Gary Trent Jr. contributed 20 points off the bench, helping the Bucks win for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 31 points and went a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, but his outside shooting struggled at 2-for-9 from deep. The Mavericks, now 32-29 and 10th in the Western Conference, continue to fight for positioning while awaiting Anthony Davis’ return from a groin injury.
Milwaukee took control late in the first half, closing the second quarter on a 13-4 run to turn a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead. Lillard hit the first shot of the third quarter, sparking a 10-2 surge that pushed the margin to 81-65.
Antetokounmpo’s efficiency was key as he shot 9-for-14 from the field and an uncharacteristic 11-for-13 from the free-throw line. Lillard complemented him with four three-pointers and an 8-for-8 mark from the charity stripe.
Moses Brown provided a bright spot for the Mavericks, posting 18 points and nine rebounds on the final day of his 10-day contract. The 7-foot-2 center has been a crucial presence for Dallas, which is dealing with frontcourt injuries to Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford.
Brook Lopez and Kyle Kuzma combined for 23 points, with Lopez adding three blocks to anchor Milwaukee’s defense. Taurean Prince chipped in nine points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
The Mavericks shot just 27.5% from three-point range, making 11 of their 40 attempts. Klay Thompson scored 16 points but struggled with his shot, going 5-for-14 from the floor.
Dallas outscored Milwaukee 38-31 in the fourth quarter, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy combined for 28 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to slow down the Bucks’ high-powered offense.
