It has certainly been an up and down start to 2016 for the Dallas Mavericks (21-15). Negating a disappointing two game losing streak last weekend with an exciting sweep of both ends of a back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the Mavs have to enter Friday night’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks (14-23) salivating at the opportunity to reach seven games over the .500 mark for the first time this season.
Dallas followed its exhilarating double overtime win over the Kings at home Tuesday night with a surprising win in New Orleans Wednesday when Chandler Parsons was the only member of the starting lineup to not miss the game for rest. Parsons played a season high 37 minutes in the Mavs win over the Bucks in Dallas early last week.
The 103-93 victory for Dallas on December 28th was the third game in their four game win streak that concluded with their impressive massacre of the Golden State Warriors two nights later. Against the Bucks, Dallas was led in scoring by Wesley Matthews with 22 points on 5-7 shooting from the beyond the arc. Dirk Nowitzki was an unimpressive 3-15 from the floor against the team that drafted him back in the summer of 1998 before trading him to the Mavs that day.
Perhaps following a game and two full days off, Nowitzki can get the legs back in his shot. Despite scoring 20 or more points in 5 of the last 10 games, the Big German’s shooting percentage continues to fall as the season goes on. Of course, it began so high that it had to go down eventually. However, the fall hasn’t been gradual. After shooting 52% from the floor in November, Nowitzki has lowered his field goal percentage to 46% for the season by shooting 42 and 37% in December and January respectively. In 29 career games against Milwaukee, Nowitzki has averaged 22.7 points on 47% shooting.
It has been a disappointing season for the Bucks so far. Many expected them to take big step towards title contention with their young roster building on a playoff appearance last season. They added big man Greg Monroe via free agency and more or less added former number two overall pick Jabari Parker to an already packed wing player rotation following his recovery from an ACL injury last season. Parker hasn’t exactly taken the world by storm in his sophomore season, scoring just under 11 points per game in around 26 minutes per game. With wing players like Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo and O.J. Mayo all being capable scorers and ball handlers in addition to Parker, coach Jason Kidd suddenly faces the toughest part of building a young core like the Bucks have. How are all the pieces going to fit?
The Mavericks have won six consecutive matchups against the Bucks with Milwaukee’s last win in the series coming in Dallas on February 26th, 2012.
Last 3 and Next Three (Central Time listed):
Dallas
1/6 @NO 100-91 W
1/5 vs SAC 117-116 W (2 OT)
1/2 vs NO 105-98 L
1/10 @MIN 4:00
1/12 vs CLE 7:30
1/13 @OKC 7:00
Milwaukee
1/5 @CHI 117-106 L
1/4 vs SA 123-108 L
1/2 @MIN 105-95 W
1/10 @NY 6:30
1/12 vs CHI 7:00
1/13 @WAS 6:00
Injuries
Dallas: Chandler Parsons should be good to go after playing through a hip injury sustained in Tuesday’s game against the Kings.
Milwaukee: Jerryd Bayless missed Tuesday’s game with Chicago and is day-to-day with an ankle injury. Greivis Vazquez is out through at least the end of January following ankle surgery in December.
How To Watch:
Game time is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be available on FSSW and ESPN Radio (103.3 FM) in Dallas.
By Dylan Duell
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