Game Night: Get Your Popcorn Ready for a Mavs, Bucks Dunk Contest

 

 MILWAUKEE, WI – Tonight, the Dallas Mavericks (14-5) will take on Milwaukee Bucks (10-9) at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee (7:00 PM CT, Fox Sports Southwest/103.3 ESPN). Both teams come into tonight’s game on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavs are currently riding a three-game winning streak while averaging 114.2 points during that span, including a double overtime win over the Chicago Bulls last night. The Bucks come into tonight’s game on a two-game losing streak after a three-point loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night and a 14-point loss against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night.

 

 

 

 

 

	Mavericks Projected Starters	Bucks Projected Starters
PG	Jameer Nelson 7.3 PPG, 4.5 APG, 2.5 RPG	Brandon Knight 17.5 PG, 6.0 APG, 4.7 RPG
SG	Monta Ellis 20.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 2.6 RPG	OJ Mayo 10.9 PPG, 3.3 APG, 2.3 RPG
SF	Chandler Parsons 14.9 PPG, 2.3 APG, 5.1 RPG	Giannis Antetokounmpo 12.0 PPG, 2.1 APG, 5.9 RPG
PF	Al Farouq Aminu 5.4 PPG, 0.5 APG, 3.9 RPG	Jabari Parker 12.4 PPG, 1.7 APG, 6.2 RPG
C	Tyson Chandler 10.9 PPG, 11.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG	Larry Sanders 7.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.7 BPG

 

Old Foes

Tonight marks the first game for the Mavs against Jason Kidd as Head Coach of the Bucks. After a messy divorce  from the Brooklyn Nets, Kidd is looking to groom a young, promising Bucks team complete with the second pick  in the 2014 draft in Jabari Parker, the eight pick in the 2011 draft in Brandon Knight and the fifteenth pick in the 2013 draft in Gianni Antetokounmpo. Yeah, don’t even attempt to pronounce that name. The Bucks are also manned by shooting guard OJ Mayo, famous for his one-year, effortless stint with the Mavs where he shot a career high 40.7% from three-point land.  How about this year? Well, OJ Mayo is back to being, well, OJ Mayo. He’s currently shooting 28.4% from three and no that’s not a typo. Monta Ellis also returns home to the place where he spent two seasons of his career (18.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 6.0 APG). Last season, Ellis struggled against his former team, averaging just 12.5 points while shooting 42.8%.

 

What To Watch For

Tyson Chander vs Larry Sanders: At 6’11’’ Sanders is younger version of Chandler. Sanders’ athleticism and energy could be troublesome for the 32-year-old Chandler, especially on the second night of a back to back. Look for Brandan Wright to extended minutes at the center position to spell Chandler, in a comparable match up that should be fun to watch.

 

Get your popcorn ready for a dunk contest. The Mavs currently lead the league in dunks and now meet the second team in the league in dunks.  Between Tyson Chandler (54 dunks), Brandan Wright (33 dunks), Giannis Antetokounmpo (23 dunks), Jabari Parker (33 dunks) and Larry Sanders (17 dunks) this game should have the flair of an all-star game.

 

Injuries

Mavs: Raymond Felton is still dealing with ankle issues is probable, but may be inactive for tonight’s game.

UPDATE: Dirk Nowitzki (rest) will not play on tonight against the Bucks.

 

Bucks: Ersan Ilyasova Ilyasova (face) will remain overnight at a hospital in Cleveland for observation following his facial contusion suffered Tuesday, is likely out tonight. John Henderson (foot) is out.

 

All-Time Series

The Bucks lead the all-time series against the Mavs 37-28. The Mavs won both games against the Bucks last season.

 

Outlook

On paper, the Mavs are more superior, more balanced and just a downright better team, which presents the perfect opportunity for a trap game. The Mavs have been solid on the road this year at 7-3, but if they don’t come into tonight’s game with high energy and effort, putting the thrill of last night’s win behind them, this young Bucks will punish them with their nothing to lose attitude.

 

Team Comparison	Mavericks	Bucks
Points	110.3 (1st)	97.6 (20th)
Rebounds	41.9 (19th)	42.0 (18th)
Assists	24.6 (5th)	22.7 (9th)
Points Allowed	101.6 (23rd)	98.9 (11th)