Three Studs and Duds for the Bucks vs Mavs
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Dallas Mavericks on the road in a close game 106-105. It was a really entertaining game featuring the league’s top two scorers. (Giannis ended with 28 while Luka finished with 33.) The Bucks took the season series 2-0.
Check out our “studs” and “duds” from tonight. The Bucks play again on Sunday on the road against the Houston Rockets. We’ll have your preview here as well.
Khris Middleton
As the game went on you could just sense Middleton was gaining confidence and improving. He ended up with 19/3/5 but really started to control the tempo in stretches of the game. His three defensive rebounds came at key moments.
As his conditioning improves and as he gets his legs back, it is starting to feel safe again to assume.
Brook Lopez’s last play
Lopez hit the game winner on the Bucks last possession to seal the win. He makes our list of studs almost solely on that one play. Otherwise his stat line and performance was also pedestrian. (4/6/0) He also added three blocks. It was great to start to hear some consensus that he is a legitimate defensive player of the year candidate.
Luka Doncic
I know we usually don’t include opposing players in our “Studs and Duds” but Luka really is a magnificent player. The Mavericks will go as far as Luka Doncic can carry them. He is having an MVP-caliber year. Doncic is leading the NBA in scoring ( 32.9 ppg). He is also 6th in the NBA in assists per game so it’s difficult to accuse him of being a ball hog. He just hasn’t gotten much help from his supporting cast.
Last nigh he finished with 33 points but it really felt like anytime he was in, the Mavs had a chance.
Duds
A win is a win. These are professional athletes whoBut let’s take a second to be nit picky and look for that more ideal game.
Giannis
We’ve come to expect so much of Giannis this one almost doesn’t seem right. But fouling out and turning the ball over seven times get him on our duds list. It just wasn’t a crisp game for the Bucks superstar. And that’s ok. They aren’t all going to be amazing.
Giannis was 7-10 from the line which is fine. And his three point shot continues to improve. But he really needs to watch those fouls and turnovers.
Jordan Nwora
Nwora didn’t play for some reason. He was not listed on the injury report prior to the game. Is Nwora the odd man out in Coach Bud’s rotation?
Gamblers
For a dud? “Gamblers”. Yep, with a one-point win the game would be considered a “push” by most Vegas casinos or sports betting outlets. Is there anything worse than a tie? (We’re looking at you soccer.)
Robin Adams, the co-owner of wisportsheroics, usually writes this column. Check out my favorite piece by him here.
Follow me on Twitter at @authorrudylb and check out my other writings at www.rudylb.com. Follow us at @WiSportsHeroics! For all things Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
