Field Level Media
Dec 16, 2019
Kristaps Porzingis collected 26 points and 12 rebounds as the visiting Dallas Mavericks ended the Milwaukee Bucks' 18-game winning streak with a 120-116 victory on Monday.
Seth Curry scored 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor for the Mavericks, who overcame Giannis Antetokounmpo's 48-point, 14-rebound performance to post their 12th win in 15 games.
Dallas played without reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic, who sustained a moderate right ankle sprain Saturday during the first quarter of a 122-118 loss to the Miami Heat.
"Luka Doncic is responding well to treatment," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said prior to the game. "He is off crutches and out of a boot. He is progressing well. He will not play on Wednesday (against the visiting Boston Celtics)."
Kyle Korver had five 3-pointers to highlight his season-high 17 points for the Bucks, whose streak fell two wins shy of the franchise record. The loss was Milwaukee's first since a 103-100 setback at Utah on Nov. 8.
Porzingis connected on a pair of long-range 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to push Dallas' advantage to 105-91 with 5:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Curry added a no-hesitation 3-pointer in transition to appear to seemingly put the game out of reach with 4 1/2 minutes left, though Milwaukee took advantage of some shoddy Mavericks foul shooting to remain within earshot.
Antetokounmpo's driving basket brought the Bucks to within 119-116 with 5.2 seconds left, but he was unable to make the ensuing free throw. Dallas' Tim Hardaway Jr. made one of two free throws with 1.9 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo scored Milwaukee's first 11 points in the third quarter to give the Bucks a 67-66 lead before Dallas ignited a 14-2 run, with Curry scoring nine points to highlight that stretch.
The Mavericks erased an early 8-1 deficit as Porzingis scored 11 points and Dorian Finney-Smith added eight to secure a 36-22 lead after the first quarter. The 14-point deficit after one quarter matched a season high for Milwaukee, which also trailed by 14 against the Jazz on Nov. 8.
The Bucks weathered the storm after Dallas shot 7-for-13 from 3-point range in the first quarter to make a run on their own in the second. Antetokounmpo scored 13 points in the quarter as Milwaukee pulled within three at halftime.
--Field Level Media