Mavericks Dominate Short-Handed Bucks in Preseason Finale

The Mavericks finally picked up their first win of the preseason in their last chance to do so

Oct 17, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard Andre Jackson Jr. (44) defends during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks entered their preseason finale down their biggest star once again, as Luka Doncic missed the entirety of the preseason with a calf contusion. They were hoping this would be a dress rehearsal for the regular season, but they were down Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Dante Exum, and Kessler Edwards.

Their starting lineup for tonight was Kyrie Irving, Quentin Grimes, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford, while the Milwaukee Bucks started A.J. Johnson, Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, Tyler Smith, and Liam Robbins. Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez were all unavailable for the game.

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It was another slow start offensively without Doncic, starting just 3/10 from the floor. Kyrie Irving's second three-pointer of the night, a transition pull-up as AJ Johnson left his hand down, gave Dallas a 13-10 lead, their first since the opening minutes. He hit his first three shots and Gafford hit two of his first three, but Thompson, Grimes, and Washington hit none of their first combined eight shots.

By the end of the first quarter, Kyrie Irving had 12 points on a perfect 5/5 from the floor, but the Mavericks were behind 22-21, as the rest of the team shot just 3/16. Milwaukee wasn't much better, shooting 10/25 from the field and 2/8 from three, but they were moving the ball well to generate open shots.

The second quarter started with a bad Klay Thompson miss, pulling up from just off the elbow and barely hitting the front of the rim. Milwaukee's pick-and-roll with Pat Connaughton and Anžejs Pasečņiks was giving the Mavs fits, generating open looks and getting downhill with ease. Thompson finally got on the board a few minutes later, hitting a three-pointer to break a shooting slump dating back to last week. He'd then come back down and hit a one-dribble pull-up to give the Mavs a 30-29 lead.

Dallas was able to open up a double-digit lead following some tough baskets from Jaden Hardy and Dereck Lively II, and Klay Thompson was shooting the ball very well, hitting another few three-pointers. A 16-0 run gave the Mavs a 54-36 lead right before halftime before a Connaughton free-throw line pull-up ended the run. Dallas would enter the locker room up 54-38.

Kyrie led the Mavs in scoring in the first half with 14 points, followed by Klay Thompson's 11. Lively also had a strong first 24 minutes with eight points and seven rebounds.

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Dallas instantly got the lead up to over 20 points at the start of the second half following a three-pointer by Jaden Hardy. Spencer Dinwiddie finally got some shots to fall in the third quarter after a rough start to the preseason that was overshadowed by Thompson's struggles. Naji Marshall would end the quarter with a dunk that pushed the lead to 83-58.

With the game out of hand entering the fourth quarter, Dallas emptied their bench, bringing in AJ Lawson, Brandon Williams, Jazian Gortman, Dwight Powell, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. They were able to keep a hold on the lead, including a crazy finish by Prosper.

DANG! OMax wants minutes pic.twitter.com/JtbjLrTYcE

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) October 18, 2024

The Mavericks would go on to win 109-84 for their first win of the preseason, led in scoring by Kyrie Irving's 14 points. Five other Mavs were in double figures, as well: Klay Thompson (11), Jaden Hardy (11), Danie; Gafford (11), Brandon Williams (10), and Dereck Lively II (10). Lively also had nine rebounds, but was out-rebounded by Quentin Grimes, who had 10. Milwaukee only had three players in double-digits, led by Gary Trent Jr.'s 12.

After struggling with turnovers against the Clippers on Monday night, turning it over 29 times, they were much better at controlling the ball against Milwaukee, finishing with 14 turnovers, and a majority of those came in the 4th quarter.

Dallas will start the regular season next Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs in Dallas at 6:30 p.m. CST.

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