NBA Matchup: Dallas Mavericks vs Milwaukee Bucks
Date: December 23, 2021
Time: 8:30 PM ET
The Dallas Mavericks will host the Milwaukee Bucks at American Airlines Center for the first time in the 2021-22 NBA season. Both the Mavericks and the Bucks will miss their star players in Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetekoumpo due to the league’s Health and Safety Protocols.
Dallas Mavericks season so far
Dallas Mavericks have been in decent form recently in the NBA season. In the last five fixtures, they have won three games while losing two games The Mavericks are placed in seventh place on the Western Conference table with a win percentage of 0.500. Dallas ranks 20th in the league with an adjusted 109.2 offensive rating and 14th in the NBA with an adjusted 109.2 rating on the defensive end of the floor.
JB is good at ???? pic.twitter.com/6hB1SXyAWU
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) December 22, 2021
Luka Doncic leads the Mavericks in points, rebounds, and assists with 25.6 points, eight rebounds, and eights assists. But in his absence, Point Guard Jalen Brunson has taken a massive step. Brunson is putting up 20.4 points, 7.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals while shooting 36.4% from the 3-point line and 52.9% from the field in the last five games.
Milwaukee Bucks season so far
The Milwaukee Bucks ended their two-game losing streak with a victory at home over the Rockets on Wednesday night. Jrue Holiday scored 24 points and 10 assists while Khris Middleton added 23 points, shooting 37.0% from 3-point range in the win. Milwaukee is placed 14th in the league with an adjusted 110.2 offensive rating, it ranks ninth in the NBA defensively with an adjusted 108.1 mark.
With Bucks leader in points and rebounds, Giannis Antetekoumpo missing time due to the Covid-19, Jrue Holiday has emerged top performer for the team. In the last three games without the Greek Freak, Jrue Holiday is averaging 30.0 points, 9.7 assists while shooting 56.3 FG%.
Dallas Mavericks vs Milwaukee Bucks Match Prediction
The Milwaukee Bucks are favorites to win against the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams are shorthanded with key players missing time due to injuries and the Covid-19 virus. The Cream City still has a pair of All-Star caliber players in Middleton and Holiday to go along with a host of players that know how to play their roles well. Second-year player Jordan Nwora has also come into his own in Antetokoumnpo’s absence, which should give Milwaukee more than enough firepower to emerge with a strong performance on the road here. Hence, Milwaukee Bucks are most likely to win this game against Dallas Mavericks.
Injury Report
Dallas Mavericks
Eugene Omoruyi- Foot – Game Time Decision
Kristaps Porzingis – Toe – Game Time Decision
Luka Doncic – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Dec 31
Trey Burke – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Jan 1
Willie Cauley-Stein – Personal – Expected to be out until at least Dec 25
Tim Hardaway Jr. – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Dec 31
Maxi Kleber – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Dec 27
Josh Green – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Dec 29
Reggie Bullock – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Dec 25
Milwaukee Bucks
Donte DiVincenzo – Covid-19 – Game Time Decision
Grayson Allen – Undisclosed – Game Time Decision
Bobby Portis – Covid-19 – Game Time Decision
Sandro Mamukelashvili – Illness – Game Time Decision
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Covid-19 – Expected to be out until at least Dec 25
Brook Lopez – Back – Expected to be out until at least Mar 1
How to watch Dallas Mavericks vs Milwaukee Bucks?
You can watch Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks on NBA TV. The game will be live-streamed on NBA League Pass.
Also read: NBA Comparisons: Who Is the Better 3-point Shooter Between Stephen Curry and Ray Allen ?