'NBA COVID Chaos': Scrappy Dallas Mavs Fall to Bucks, 102-95

The severely undermanned Dallas Mavericks gave the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks all they could handle, but the Bucks still came out on top, 102-95

DALLAS - With six replacement players on the Dallas Mavericks roster, COVID-19 chaos took center stage as the Mavericks hosted the NBA's defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night. In Dallas' last home game at the American Airlines Center in 2021, the Mavs lost to the Bucks 102-95. 

Dallas was without 10 players tonight, including seven Mavs at various stages in the league’s COVID safety protocols. Dallas star Luka Doncic (protocols) was out for his sixth-straight game, after missing the first five while dealing with soreness in his left ankle. Plus, Kristaps Porzingis (right toe soreness) missed his second-straight game. Six of the Mavs' 13 available players were replacement players.

"The guys played hard," said head coach Jason Kidd.

"We were in position, a great position tonight against the world champs. We missed some opportunities. Had good looks, got stops, just couldn't score the ball there [in] the last five minutes. ... I don't know if it's fatigue, but we are playing [Jalen Brunson] and Dorian [Finney-Smith] past their limit minute-wise; this was almost another 48-minute night for those two. But they're not complaining. They're fighting, they're trying to do everything they can to help the team win. It's a game. We got stops, we got good looks, we just missed some 3s there, wide open."

For the Bucks, perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo is also on the health and safety protocols list. Milwaukee got the win without Donte DiVincenzo and Bobby Portis, who are also in health and safety protocols. 

The Bucks shooting was extremely streaky to start, going scoreless for 8 minutes to end the first quarter before rallying back. Dallas led 23-15 after the first quarter and held onto a 43-41 lead at halftime with much thanks to scoring by committee. 

The Mavs had 10 different players score tonight, including Brandon Knight who was signed earlier today to a 10-day contract under the COVID-related hardship allowance. Despite most of the team never playing together before tonight, Dallas was able jell enough to keep it close until the end of the fourth quarter. Frank Ntilikina scored a season-high 14 points for the Mavs and Jalen Brunson led the team with 19. Marquese Chriss, a 2016 lottery pick, added 13 points off the bench but fouled out with three minutes left in the game. 

“I’ve been in so many new situations in such a short amount of time, I’m kind of just used to it," said Chriss of his instant production in Dallas.

"I think as I’m getting older, just starting to take advantage of every opportunity, really not thinking too much about it. Going out there and playing as hard as I can. I feel like my role is pretty simple – set good screens, roll to the basket, play defense, and rebound. I think all of those things are controlled by my energy and effort. It’s not really that hard for me I think the biggest thing was just sitting at home watching everybody else play and missing it and feeling like I could contribute and be somewhere and be myself. I’m just thankful to be here and taking it one day at a time.”

The Bucks pulled away in the fourth quarter with sharpshooting from Khris Middleton and DeMarcus Cousins who scored 26 and 22 respectively.

Dallas is still searching for ways to win without their star to stay competitive in the Western Conference playoff race. The Mavs are 6-12 since mid-November when Doncic injured his ankle, and have now fallen back under .500 with a 15-16 record.

Next up, a Mavericks holiday special. Dallas begins a five-game road trip on Christmas night in Salt Lake City against the Utah Jazz. The matchup is the final game of the NBA’s Christmas Day slate (9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN).