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00:00This is Leslie McCaslin, who now has a report from Courtside here on MAPS-TV.
00:03Hi, Leslie.
00:04Hi.
00:04Well, Dwight Powell coming off the bench after a solid light against Minnesota last night.
00:08He had 9 points, 8 rebounds, a couple assists.
00:12Jason Kidd joked before the game that he took What Page out of his own book
00:15because he did it without attempting a field goal.
00:17As we look at our Taco Bell take, most points scored in the NBA without a field goal attempt.
00:24Unselfish, approved.
00:25Those are the things Jason Kidd called him before the game.
00:28He's the first one in the gym, the last one to the leap.
00:31And, guys, Jason even said the DP is the Mavs locker room.
00:36756 games in his Mavs career for the 12-year vet from Stanford.
00:41And wasting no time putting up a shot is Kyle Kuzma,
00:45who's been unavailable due to injury in the last four games, and he misses on a three-point attempt.
00:51Underway at five-serve form.
00:53Milwaukee played in Dallas on November the 10th
00:56and came back in the fourth quarter to win by two.
00:58Dallas gets a Ryan Nimhard three on their first offensive possession, and he misses.
01:03Both good looks to start the game, trying to find the flow.
01:07Back-to-back for the Mavs.
01:10And Milwaukee mired in a really difficult stretch as of late.
01:14They call Kuzma's number again, and he scores.
01:19You know Giannis tonight, they're going to depend on a lot of guys to step up offensively.
01:23Kuzma's going to be one of those guys.
01:24He averages 13 points per game.
01:26He doubled that output in the win against Dallas back in November.
01:31Shot the ball well that night.
01:33Going 11 out of 17 from the floor.
01:35Mid-range jumper for Middleton.
01:38Overshoots it, and it's Ryan Rollins who came away with the ball for Milwaukee.
01:44Milwaukee going into play tonight at 29-45, and they've lost four straight games.
01:49Miles Turner, he misses, but Jericho Sims hustles after the rebounds.
01:54Looked like he was going to claim it in the corner, but ends up stepping out of bounds.
02:02Tonight is the 15th start of the year for Sims, who is the definition of a paint player.
02:11More on that when the opportunity to share some numbers presents itself.
02:15Speaking of into paint, that's where Chris Middleton puts Dallas on the board.
02:19The left.
02:22Like that.
02:25Kuzma looking for his offense early in the game.
02:28He's missed a three, but has two thrusts to the basket to score for Milwaukee.
02:33A drive by Ryan Nimhardt.
02:35A leave in the corner for Max Christie.
02:37Off the rim and the backboard, and then claimed by Milwaukee.
02:43At home this year, 16-21.
02:46The record for the Bucs.
02:48Mavs won in Portland on Friday night.
02:51Their 10th road win of the year against 26 losses away from home.
02:55Kuzma leaves it inside.
02:56There's Jericho Sims.
02:57Well, he thrives in the paint.
03:00No player in the NBA scores a higher percentage of his points in the paint than Jericho Sims.
03:06Almost 90% of his points are in the paint.
03:10But occasionally, he gets fouled on paint opportunities and goes to the free throw line, as he will right now.
03:16Talk about his game in paint.
03:17I think it meshes really well with Miles Turner, who likes to step out from three.
03:21So, you've got a guy that can space the floor in Miles Turner.
03:24But having that presence of Sims in the paint really complements each other really well.
03:29Well, it's building time for the remainder of this year for both of these teams.
03:34Interestingly enough, the playoff fields, at least in terms of the 10 teams, and obviously 7 through 10 in each
03:42conference, qualify for their conferences' respective play-in tournaments.
03:46And those fields are hardly set.
03:48But you know who will comprise the top 10 and who's on the outside looking in at both conferences.
03:53So, it's all about looking for combinations and looking for things that can potentially work moving forward.
03:59And who knows what's going to happen with Giannis moving forward in Milwaukee.
04:04And it is interesting you bring up how Sims and Turner, their games, problem at each other.
04:09Cooper.
04:11He shoots and hits.
04:13I think that's really good for him to see one go early from a mid-range perspective.
04:19He's a lot more confident to take that as the game progresses.
04:23Shooting nights like last night, few and far between.
04:26The rookie season for Cooper Flagg.
04:28Last night, 12 points in the game against the Timberwolves, going 5 of 19 from the floor.
04:33But Coop scores on his first field goal attempt tonight.
04:36A missed three a moment ago by Rollins.
04:39And now Middleton loses the ball, but is deflected out to Nimhard.
04:43Who will he even hit from three-point range?
04:49With everybody out, we're going to see a lot of Middleton in the post.
04:53And do a lot of different things, but more so, it's impressive to watch him score.
04:59Rollins just scored for Milwaukee.
05:02Nimhard wastes no time bringing the ball up the floor.
05:05Devin mentioned players out.
05:07Marshall's out.
05:08Washington's out.
05:09Clay Thompson out.
05:10Bagley out.
05:13And then you tack on, of course, Kyrie and Derek Lively, who have the long-term injuries that have kept
05:19Kyrie out all year and Lively for most of the season.
05:22So, it's a thin group available for the Mavs tonight.
05:28Thin group for both teams.
05:31The Bucs, of course, with most notably Giannis Adetokounmpo out, but Kevin Porter, Jr., Gary Harris, among other notable names,
05:39unavailable tonight.
05:40That shot by Coop as he rises and leans into it.
05:44Rolls off the rim.
05:47Probe here by Rollins.
05:49And a three-pointer is made by Gary Trent, Jr.
05:53Used to seeing that one go in after the game he had.
05:57Nine threes.
05:58Can't let him get into rhythm.
06:0036 points on Sunday and a loss to the Clippers.
06:04That was a season high for him.
06:06We'll have more on that here in just a little bit.
06:08There's Gafford inside.
06:09Does everything but go in after he claimed the offensive rebound.
06:16Kuzma.
06:17A hesitation, an attack underneath to Jericho Sims, and he scores.
06:23And the first timeout of the game is taken by the Mavres.
06:26Just over four and a half minutes into tonight's game.
06:29It's Milwaukee in front of Dallas, 13-7.
06:32Start out as a player trying to figure it out as a young player.
06:36Pair him with a Giannis Antetokounmpo.
06:38They really built something special in winning a championship.
06:41An absolute bucket-getter and beloved by Milwaukee fans.
06:45It was a year in Detroit before being traded to Milwaukee.
06:50A deal involving Brandon Jennings and Brandon Knight.
06:53Max Christie misses on a shot.
06:56Three-time All-Star, as you saw in the graphic.
06:59Of course, a ring in 2021.
07:01Memorable finals with the Phoenix Suns as it's jammed by Jericho Sims.
07:06Off the lead from Kyle Kuzma.
07:10The way Sims is always in the right spot on penetration, setting himself up for success.
07:16Reads how to move off the ball well.
07:18Cooper is fouled as he makes a move to try to score off the glass.
07:22Earns himself a trip to the free throw line to try to bring Dallas closer as they're down
07:27by eight after this dunk by Sims.
07:29Kuzma struggling from the perimeter, getting into the paint, drawing that defense, and Sims
07:34in the right spot at the right time for the drop-off.
07:37Cooper on the free throw line with two with 6.48 left in the first quarter.
07:42Playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
07:44I think his average is on the second night of a back-to-back.
07:47And 10 previous opportunities this year are notable at 19 points per game.
07:51Because remember, the first time he played on a back-to-back this year in a game against
07:55the Thunder, he scored just two points.
07:57So obviously, he's learned to cope with that.
07:58Yeah, he's learned a lot of different things.
08:00And Jay Kidd talked about, you know, the bad shoot night against Minnesota kind of being
08:03a playoff-type atmosphere from a physicality standpoint.
08:06And him going through that the first time, going through a back-to-back the first time
08:10struggles, but when he sees it again, he typically responds a lot better.
08:15Rollins with a lob.
08:16Sims trying to guide it home, unable to do so.
08:20Brandon Williams is in the game.
08:21Musa Cissé's in the game.
08:23He's active tonight.
08:24And there's Williams immediately onto the floor and attacking.
08:28Playing with so much better pace as of late.
08:32Another nice game last night.
08:3415 points, six boards, seven assists.
08:39And here's a chance for Koop to rebound and run.
08:41Really excels in transition opportunities like this.
08:44Got into the paint, and it rolls off the rim no good.
08:48Keeps it alive against Miles Turner, and then deflected out of bounds by Musa Cissé.
08:58Soft touch, just doesn't get to go in.
09:02Six shots that he normally makes with a higher percentage, but continue to work the game.
09:09Friday night, he had 24 points in Portland.
09:1320 of those were in the first half, and he had a career-high four steals in that game.
09:18Koop's had two games of four blocks this year, and his first game of four steals.
09:23Koop scores off the pocket pass going to the basket.
09:26Ryan Rollins fed him, and Koop with another paint basket.
09:33Six points early on for Kyle Kuzma.
09:37Kooper is free for three.
09:39He'll let a rip, and it's short.
09:40And into the game, Tyler Smith with an offensive rebound, and he goes back up to score.
09:45Springboard really got up for that offensive rebound.
09:47Career high of eight rebounds last night.
09:51Of course, just limited opportunities as Koosman scores and has a chance for three the hard way.
09:57Really aggressive in this first quarter.
10:01Listen, those four games, really anxious to get back, but...
10:05And anxious to help his team.
10:07All four losses, and three of the four losses by 30-plus points for Milwaukee.
10:13They lost by 14 in their most recent game to the Clippers, but drilled by the Spurs, Trailblazers, and Clippers
10:20by 30-plus in that recent stretch.
10:27Koosman completes the three-point play.
10:30Spent a lot of big losses for Milwaukee as of late.
10:33They lost 14 of 17 games, with 11 of those 14 losses by 15 or more points.
10:42Now, Milwaukee up by seven.
10:45John Polakidis is into the game.
10:47Koosman just had a three-point play.
10:49Cooper got deep into the paint, but there was a last line of defense.
10:53Miles Turner, and then a big collision between Koop and Turner, but Koop hustles back.
10:58Does retrieve a loose ball for Dallas.
11:00That sets up Polakidis in transition.
11:03John Polakidis misses on the first three-point attempt,
11:06but another offensive rebound by Tyler Smith, and another three attempted by Polakidis,
11:11and this one is on the money.
11:13We call that two for a dollar.
11:14I like it.
11:16The two ways connect.
11:18Tyler Smith and John Polakidis, they arrived on the scene simultaneously with Dallas late in the season.
11:25That's two-way contract additions right at the end of February.
11:29And those two team up for that last basket for Dallas.
11:34Here's Smith again, leading a lefty floater in the lane very short,
11:37and the ball's out of bounds to Milwaukee.
11:42They could also talk about this in the pregame presser.
11:46Doesn't Harpo get in a turnover?
11:48The mindset is, how do I get the ball back?
11:51Going after it aggressively leads to a transition opportunity.
11:55Doesn't get the first one to go, but best time to shoot another three is off an offensive rebound.
11:58Polakidis gets a second opportunity and knocks that one down.
12:02Well, he's got some folks here tonight.
12:04Of course, these games in Milwaukee are big for the Chicagoland area.
12:09Individuals who play on teams who come here to play in Milwaukee.
12:13And John Polakidis is from Naperville, Illinois.
12:16And, of course, Max Christie, Rolling Meadows, Illinois,
12:20where he was a McDonald's All-American.
12:21In the paint.
12:22A.J. Green is in the game.
12:24That's a rare two-point attempt for A.J. Green.
12:27Devin, his three-point attempt rate is second to Nick Batum.
12:31Almost 90% of A.J. Green's shots are three-pointers.
12:35He misses on a two in the paint.
12:37Well, you know where to find him on the court.
12:39Yes.
12:39It's not much of a mystery where A.J. Green is going to be hanging.
12:43And it's not much of a mystery where Leslie McCaslin is hanging out.
12:47And she's got more on some of these Chicagoland individuals coming to play close to home.
12:53Leslie?
12:53Yes.
12:53And because it's close to home, saw Max Christie before the game.
12:56His parents are here.
12:57And John Polakidis, this is the closest he'll get to play at home, obviously, this year,
13:02since we won't be playing at Chicago anymore.
13:04And there's another three for him.
13:06And that's because he has so many people in the house watching.
13:09His mom, his dad, his brother, aunts, uncles, high school friends, coaches, guys.
13:14You name it.
13:15And nice job on the play-by-play of his three-two, Leslie.
13:18A timeout is called by Milwaukee.
13:20They lead the man.
13:21Here, and this is hurt.
13:22You know, it's been difficult.
13:23There were expectations when I came here.
13:25And, unfortunately, we haven't been able to meet those expectations.
13:28And then to not even make the playoffs, obviously, I wear that.
13:32And that weighs on me very heavily.
13:34It weighs on him, too, because he's from here.
13:36So it's even more of a, you know, you want to come home and do well.
13:40And to not be able to accomplish those goals, you know, definitely hurts more.
13:45Milwaukee with the ball out of a timeout.
13:47Show and go.
13:47Miles Turner, and a scoop to the hoop is missed.
13:50And crashing the glass is Musa Cisse.
13:53Tyler Smith played with Milwaukee last year.
13:55Polakides to A.J. Johnson.
13:56He started his career in Milwaukee last year before a trade to the Wizards
14:00and a trade to the Mavs.
14:01And he hits on a corner three.
14:03You know, Doc Rivers talked a lot about get-back games, right?
14:05Yes.
14:06And being traded.
14:07Even if there's a lot of respect there,
14:08you always want to play well against a team that trades you away.
14:11Yusman Jang is in the game, makes a pass to the corner
14:14where a contested three is hit by Torian Prince.
14:20As you come back to within one after the A.J. Johnson three-pointer,
14:24Prince pushes the lead back to four for Milwaukee.
14:28On the bounce, Brandon Williams working against A.J. Green.
14:31Shot fake, pivots, down to six to shoot.
14:34Tyler Smith returns it to Williams in traffic,
14:38looking for Cisse and out of bounds with a turnover.
14:40It's bad spacing there.
14:44First to turnover.
14:46Back in Daniel Gaffer.
14:50Both teams only two turnovers in the game so far.
14:54Those average around 15 turnovers per game.
15:05A.J. Green has it poked out of bounds by Brandon Williams
15:09with the shot clock at 15 seconds.
15:16Talk about all those recent 15-point losses from Milwaukee,
15:2011 of their last 14 losses.
15:23They have tied.
15:25We're going to have to wait on that.
15:27We have a coach's challenge,
15:29and I believe this is on the out-of-bounds call
15:31involving Brandon Williams and A.J. Green.
15:34That call on the floor by Kevin Scott, Mark Lindsey, and Natalie Sago
15:40was that it's Milwaukee ball, but J. Kidd challenging him.
15:46And so the crew tonight just mentioned the names.
15:49Let's look at the play here.
15:55Brandon Williams, you immediately see him say, off him.
15:57Let's take a look.
16:01Maybe, yeah.
16:02Yeah.
16:05Kevin Scott's in his 15th year
16:07from Oconee County, South Carolina.
16:09Mark Lindsey, 19th year, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
16:12Natalie Sago, 8th year from St. Louis.
16:15And I would concur,
16:16that is a really excellent camera angle we just had.
16:21Well, let's hear from South Carolina's own.
16:24After review, replay center official rules,
16:26there was no proximate foul,
16:28and the ball goes off the fingertips of number 20 for Milwaukee.
16:31Therefore, the challenge is successful.
16:33The Dallas ball, they will be charged to timeout,
16:36but they'll have an opportunity for a second challenge.
16:39Challenge is successful.
16:42And there is no proximate foul.
16:46And there will be a challenge left for the remainder of the game for Dallas.
16:50Neither of these coaches challenge often.
16:53And the bottom five in the league, both of them,
16:56in terms of number of challenges this year,
16:58now both at 39 challenges on the season.
17:01That was successful for Dallas.
17:03No proximate foul.
17:05Ball out of bounds off green.
17:06And the Mavs have the ball.
17:07Speaking of challenge,
17:08and obviously we switched to baseball for a second in the ABS challenge,
17:11there's been a ton of challenges on that side.
17:14And what's so funny about it is when the home team challenges
17:18and the batter is successful, for example,
17:22the thunderous applause.
17:23It goes crazy.
17:25It goes crazy.
17:27Now here's a foul.
17:28That worked out for Dallas.
17:29They got the ball back.
17:30And the player that was involved in that challenge,
17:33Brandon Williams,
17:34who dislodged the ball out of the hands of A.J. Green,
17:37and it went out off green.
17:39Williams draws a foul and will go to the free throw line.
17:43With the call on Usman Jang,
17:45his first foul in Milwaukee's third team foul of the first quarter,
17:49sending Williams to the strike.
18:08B. Will is 79% on free throws this year.
18:15Turned 26 years old during the season from Southern California
18:19at the high school in the Valley in the L.A. area, Encino, California.
18:25Brings Dallas to within a deuce
18:28as we head towards the last two minutes of the opening quarter of the game.
18:32Pete Nance is in,
18:33and he finds Ryan Rollins cutting to the basket.
18:36Really nice cut.
18:38Really nice cut.
18:40Nance, the brother of Larry Nance Jr.
18:42and the son of Larry Nance.
18:46And he is playing in his 42nd game this year
18:49to a contract converted.
18:50Okay.
18:51Yeah, just a jump shot off.
18:52Stretched the floor a little bit with the baseline J.
18:54No good for Gaffer.
18:56Feeling good.
18:56I like it.
18:58Now Torian Prince on the left side of the floor.
19:01Hands it off to Rollins,
19:02who just scored on a cut to the basket.
19:05Rollins has seven in the game.
19:07Putting out the three.
19:08This is what we're accustomed to seeing him do,
19:10not take twos like he did earlier in the quarter.
19:13And A.J. Green drains it for Milwaukee.
19:16Now a downhill attack by A.J. Johnson.
19:19He misses.
19:20Gaffer is fouled on the offensive rebound,
19:23and the foul is in the act of shooting.
19:25So it's to the line for the landlord.
19:32Milwaukee's led by as many as eight,
19:33currently in front by seven,
19:34but Gaffer trying to chip a couple of points
19:37off that Milwaukee advantage.
19:3921 points, eight boards last night for Daniel Gaffer.
19:46For his last seven games,
19:4920-plus and five of the seven,
19:50so it's led to averages of over 18 points,
19:5310 rebounds,
19:54and over 79% from the floor.
19:57And for me,
19:58that's the important number,
19:59the 79%.
20:00When he's healthy and effective,
20:03that shooting percentage is always way up.
20:07Because it's not all just him being spoon-fed lobs.
20:11There's obviously work that he does
20:13in terms of the occasional post-up,
20:15the work around the offensive glass
20:17that he does as well.
20:19That's a quick score by Usman Jang,
20:22who's had some significant playing opportunity
20:25after the trade for the Thunders here.
20:27Here's a paint catch,
20:29and that's a block by Pete Nance,
20:30but there's Daniel Gaffer,
20:32and there's that lift,
20:33and springing his legs,
20:35feeling better as he recovers the loose ball
20:37and jams it home after the initial block by Nance.
20:41It's one of the best bigs
20:42as far as scooping up loose balls around the rim
20:45and getting them up above the rim.
20:47Here's a deflection into the backcourt.
20:48And Brandon Williams just quicker,
20:50the ball to Pete Nance,
20:51and he scores with a foul.
20:54Well, B. Will has been very impactful
20:57what's coming into the game here.
20:59Doing it on both ends,
21:01but look at Gaff here,
21:02his deep position,
21:04gets the first shot blocked,
21:05but picks it up and finishes,
21:07and then B. Will's been very good
21:09with deflections all game long.
21:12But you put him in a foot race,
21:14and he's going to win that nine times out of ten.
21:15And those were tonight's Dr. Pepper,
21:17one-of-a-kind plays,
21:20and both unique in how they represent the skill sets
21:24of what Daniel Gafford brings to the table,
21:26and Brandon Williams,
21:27the subject of our open to tonight's telecast.
21:30Those two individuals who were bright spots
21:33in an otherwise difficult night for the Mavs last night,
21:36losing 124-94 at home
21:38to an angry Minnesota Timberwolves team.
21:43A.J. Green is headed to the free throw line,
21:464-3.
21:48Brandon Williams commits the foul on the jump shooter.
21:52And here is Green going to the free throw line
21:55where he's made 83% this year.
21:57That's one of the Cardinals ends.
22:00Fouling a jump shooter.
22:01That's one, but what was the other?
22:04Leaving the strong side corner.
22:06Oh, there you go.
22:07Oh, okay.
22:07All right, that's good.
22:09I thought maybe it's like A.J. Green didn't step out of bounds
22:12because that's one of the Cardinals ends.
22:13You can't leave the strong side corner.
22:16Well, that is seven deadly sins of basketball.
22:18Don't do it.
22:21Well, especially a three-point shooter of A.J. Green's reputation.
22:25Every year he's been with Milwaukee.
22:27Four seasons in the league.
22:29He shot better than 40% from the three-point line.
22:33That was his superpower coming out of a four-year collegiate career
22:36at Northern Iowa.
22:38He is from Cedar Falls, Iowa.
22:43And has had a real opportunity to play this year more so than any other season
22:48with Milwaukee.
22:49He started 61 games this year.
22:52He's playing off the bench tonight.
22:54For Green, tonight is his 10th game of the year off the bench,
22:58and they've all been recently over the last 14 games.
23:02Racing up the floor, wanting two for one perhaps, and a foul
23:06before Gafford was into the shooting motion.
23:08But Milwaukee goes over the limit.
23:10And a trip to the free-throw line for Daniel Gafford.
23:13And a high-scoring first quarter for these two teams
23:17who are in the bottom seven in the NBA, both of them.
23:20And as a matter of fact, Milwaukee is next to last in the league in scoring.
23:25Dallas is 24th at about 114 points a game.
23:27Devin Milwaukee only scores 110, but they've got 36 here on the first.
23:31They're missing so many points over there on the bench.
23:35It's tough to get offensive nights going consecutively.
23:39But we talked about Gary Trent Jr. having a big night the other night
23:42with 36 points.
23:44The guys typically in roles that they're not accustomed to,
23:48and with that, there comes struggles.
23:50I think Kyle Kuzma's presence tonight has certainly been felt.
23:53Well, if nothing else, to your point, it's elevating or it's suppressing everyone
23:58back down a level to where they might be accustomed
24:01and not having to elevate them to a level in which they're unaccustomed
24:05of that level of responsibility.
24:07One person that's really benefited from that is the guy who's handling the ball right now.
24:11Ryan Rollins.
24:13Defended here by Johnson.
24:15Rollins has had a really nice season.
24:17More on that later when the opportunity presents itself.
24:19He puts up a three, and Pete Nance attacks the offensive glass.
24:26A stop and pop to beat the buzzer is off for Brandon Williams,
24:29and the quarter is over.
24:32And an exclamation point on the quarter.
24:34Some threes have helped the Mavs.
24:35Some bench points have helped Dallas.
24:38Going to the free throw line nine times has helped.
24:42Seven of nine on the line.
24:43Cooper flag with the ball.
24:44Dallas down by seven.
24:49John Polakid has made two threes in the first quarter.
24:52Puts one up straight away.
24:53No good.
24:58Juzman Jang, a deflection by Daniel Gafford
25:00as they were looking for Jericho Sims going to the baskets.
25:08Nice to see a smile on Gaff's face as he appears in game number 53 tonight.
25:14He's got a chance to qualify for league leaders playing enough games,
25:19and if that's the case, he could finish in the top 20 in the NBA
25:23and blocks per game.
25:25He's got to play 58 games, 70% of the season,
25:29and tonight is his 53rd appearance.
25:32So he'll need to play five of the remaining six games after this for Dallas.
25:37Mavs have home games with the Magic Lakers and Bulls
25:40and road games to play with the Clippers, Suns, and Spurs,
25:43and the aforementioned Gafford with an easy basket on a roll to the cup.
25:48Pocket presence, a little late on the rotation, Milwaukee, on the weak side.
25:55First point to the second quarter scored by the Mavs.
25:59Polakid has had rotated to Torian Prince,
26:01was there to deny him any attempt from the corner,
26:04and here's a drive and throw away by Juzman Jang.
26:09Max Christie, corner Christie will let it rip.
26:12Offside, Prince with the ball for the Bucs.
26:17Prince in his 10th season of the NBA from Phelan,
26:21native of San Marcos.
26:23Way off for Ryan Rollins.
26:26No shot clock reset.
26:28Down to eight seconds.
26:29Juzman Jang did grab an offensive board.
26:32Now a step-back three for Rollins,
26:33and that one is on target after the bad miss earlier in the possession.
26:38Sometimes you just need a step-back to rhythm.
26:41That's for real, man.
26:45That's when you're out on the course, you've got to have your range find out.
26:50I need a new range find out.
26:51I lost mine.
26:52Uh-oh.
26:53Not good.
26:54Inside, here's Cooper, and it's Daniel Gaffer going for the put-back.
26:58Coop's a bit slow to get up.
27:01This is 5-4 right now.
27:04A shot from the corner, and it's Rollins who hits.
27:08I think more than anything, Cooper had a shoot come off.
27:11And now we've got back-to-back threes by Rollins,
27:14and it's an early second quarter timeout for the Mavs.
27:17It's their biggest deficit of the game, down by 11.
27:21It didn't turn out any worse than it did.
27:25Drive here for Christie.
27:27Deflection by Jang.
27:28Loose ball picked up by A.J. Green.
27:30Turnover Dallas coming out of the timeout,
27:32and Milwaukee can build on their already biggest league of the game,
27:35and they do on a new spawn, Jang three-pointer.
27:38It's got to settle down offensively.
27:40Just too many turnovers.
27:42A lot of too many opportunities for the Bucs right now.
27:45Catch on the move, and it opens up for Cooper,
27:48and he drives in the two-hand flush.
27:52I've seen that many easy buckets getting downhill.
27:57I mean, a big gap opened up in the Milwaukee defense.
28:01And it was nice to see him catch that on the move.
28:04Oh, and Sims caught it on the move, airborne, but couldn't finish.
28:10Dallas moving quickly down the floor.
28:13Pass inside to Gafford.
28:15He's fouled.
28:16And we'll see that soft spot in the Milwaukee defense
28:19that Cooper exploits right here.
28:21I like he catches it on the right.
28:23Really hard to defend from a closeout standpoint.
28:27Huge gap in there.
28:29Once he gets to the launching pads, forget about it.
28:31You know, it was interesting before the game, Devin,
28:34to hear Doc Rivers.
28:35It's been a long time since Milwaukee and Dallas across paths,
28:38and he spoke at length about the great benefit that Cooper's derived from playing with the ball in his hands
28:45so much this year
28:46and playing point guard position on many nights for the Mavericks.
28:52But he said, obviously, moving forward, he's not going to be the quote-unquote point guard,
28:56but his ability to handle the ball that he's learned more about this year would be helpful.
29:01But when you have another ball handler out there and he can catch it on the move to your point,
29:05that's a great benefit.
29:06Yeah, you talked about, you know, obviously, it's not going to be a point guard.
29:10Being a secondary ball handler, passing the ball ahead and allowing him to make decisions,
29:14makes your team that much harder to guard.
29:17And, of course, highly talented and skilled offensive players who are offensive reference points for their team
29:25are going to have the ball in their hands to create late in games.
29:29I mean, that is the main thing in the NBA is you've got to have the ball.
29:33If you're a big-time scorer, you've got to be able to do something in a late-game situation.
29:37Absolutely.
29:39Now, Coop's got it right now.
29:43For three, Nimhard.
29:48Let's get a little bit more on Cooper flag from Leslie.
29:51You spoke a little bit about what Doc said about Cooper becoming that secondary ball handler
29:55and how scary he said that is just to think about it.
29:58But he really raved about him and said he could see that there was a point this season
30:02where it slowed down for Cooper.
30:05And he said you could visually see the difference in the way he plays now
30:08and the way he attacks the game.
30:09Because, remember, he hasn't seen them since the beginning of November.
30:12He said, well, I don't know if them postponing the game early in the season
30:15was a good or a bad thing.
30:17Yeah, he's still the only player post-All-Star break, averaging at least 20 points,
30:21six boards, six assists, one steal, and one block per game.
30:28Got a turnover committed here by Milwaukee.
30:32The biggest blip on the radar offensively tonight for the Bucs is the number of turnovers.
30:37They're now at seven.
30:39He had 26 the other night.
30:41Here's the three straightaway missed.
30:43Christie, Moussa, Cissé looking for a putback.
30:46Man, Moussa's had some good G League numbers.
30:49Twelve straight games inactive.
30:52And he's down to only four left this year to be active, including tonight.
30:57After a stop, Dallas pushes the tempo.
31:00Christie thought about a long-range three.
31:03Put it down, gave it up, and Nembhard on the drive draws the foul.
31:09Dallas is two of nine from the floor here in the second quarter,
31:12but Nembhard is going to the free-throw line after the foul on green.
31:18Straight-line drive, utilizing the contact to draw the foul.
31:22But if the shots aren't falling, you've got to do something different.
31:25Free-throw line is always a great option.
31:2717-22 this year on free-throws for Nembhard as he goes to the strike right now.
31:33Have you ever wondered where greatness begins?
31:36At Softec, we're the origin of achievement.
31:40Softec, we drive results.
31:43Tonight, the 23rd start of the year for Nembhard
31:46as Chris Middleton started tonight and has returned to the game.
31:52Nembhard is a starter.
31:53Nine and a half points, about six and a half assists.
31:57Shoots 45% from the floor and 44% from the three-point line and starts this season.
32:03Moussa get it.
32:03Moussa Cisse tips it into the backcourt.
32:05He does get it.
32:07Controls it with two defenders bracketing him.
32:09And then it's Cooper with the lob looking for Moussa.
32:12And a hard fall to the floor as Moussa couldn't catch it.
32:15And a crash landing for him in the paint, but right back up to his feet.
32:19And here is Kyle Kuzma.
32:22Catch on the move and then a heck of a deceleration to score in the restricted area.
32:29Ryan Nembhard keeps a live dribble.
32:32Drives across the paint, goes to the opposite corner to Middleton.
32:36Cisse, offensive rebound, kick out.
32:37Max Christie, no.
32:43Green, he misses from the outside.
32:46Saw that one coming from a mile away.
32:48When he shoots, uh-oh is a good thing to say because there's a darn good chance it's going in.
32:55Probing Nembhard.
32:58Middleton against Torian Prince.
33:01Middleton wants Keek to set the screen.
33:04Got four on the shot clock.
33:06Middleton bump, loses the ball.
33:08Down to Christie for a really tough angle.
33:10Three deep, deep in the corner.
33:15We got away from there.
33:19Size advantage for Kuzma.
33:21He gave the ball up.
33:24Drifts to the perimeter as we cross into the back half of the second quarter.
33:28Loose ball foul is called after Kuzma missed.
33:31And as Sims was going up for an offensive rebound, a foul on the Mavs.
33:37Cisse's first, and the Mavericks' first team foul of the quarter.
33:45Bucs have led by as many as 14, currently in front by 11.
33:50Miles Turner back in.
33:54Averaging the lowest points per game since his rookie season.
33:59First year in Milwaukee, he's averaging about 12 points per game.
34:04Kuzma Jang fouled.
34:12Two quick fouls called on Cisse here.
34:19Kuzma Jang has played a lot with Milwaukee.
34:21Sends a trade from OKC, 22 games, 13 starts, nine and a half points, four boards per game in that
34:28time for East Long Channel.
34:33The log jam, obviously, to OKC.
34:36First-round pick.
34:37Yep.
34:38Lottery pick, as a matter of fact.
34:4011th in 2022.
34:44But some maneuvering that Oklahoma City made at the deadline, open up that spot for Jared McCain to come over
34:52in a trade.
34:53And what an addition that's been.
34:55Elected for a little bit more experience going at the playoff time.
34:59Middleton got it back.
35:01And Cisse was going to the basket.
35:03And it's a throwaway.
35:04Kuzma fights Gary Trent, Jr.
35:08Turner from the perimeter.
35:13A rebound for Dallas.
35:14And Brandon Williams attack mode and scores again.
35:19Three-point play opportunity is out in front of Brandon Williams right now.
35:24When he's been in the open court and had opportunities to go tonight, we have seen Brandon Williams at his
35:30best again.
35:31He splits the defenders there, but I really love the English that he finishes with.
35:36Flip of the wrist.
35:37Even going full speed, it would get it to go.
35:39I think you hit on the last part.
35:41Going full speed to finish like that.
35:43That is a whale of a finish by B. Will.
35:49Well, by every measure, he has just grown so much as a player this season.
35:56This time a year ago, he had used up all of his two-way contract eligibility.
36:00And the Mavs were waiting for a window of time when they had just a little sliver of space under
36:06the first apron hard cap
36:07to be able to convert him to a standard contract in the final days of the season.
36:12And obviously, that standard contract has continued into this year.
36:15And the improvement as a player has continued into this year for Williams.
36:20He's averaging 13 points per game this season, but the numbers since Christmas has been nearly 15 points per game
36:27and shooting over 52.5% from the floor since Christmas.
36:33Definitely has found some consistency when it comes to scoring the basketball.
36:39Shooting at a high percentage.
36:41We're shooting it at a high percentage from three.
36:43Gary Trent Jr. as of late, but he just missed the first of his two free throws.
36:49I don't want to.
36:525-0-4 left in the second quarter.
36:54One more for Trent coming off a season-high 36 points against the Clippers.
36:59And as we see tonight's Lexus leaderboard, he came very close to tying some great names,
37:05Ray Allen and Damian Lillard, for the most threes made in a game for a Bucs player.
37:10Trent went 9-of-15 from downtown against the Clippers on Sunday.
37:15A lob and soaring and scoring.
37:17Wow!
37:19What a finish for Musa Cissi from Brandon Williams.
37:23I mean, we saw Cooper Flagg throw an ambitious lob pass upstairs from Musa.
37:28And Musa able to go and get that one, which was sent skyward by Brandon Williams.
37:33Really starting to hone in on utilizing the bigs in the pick and roll for lob threats.
37:37We saw three of those last night.
37:40Able to find Musa for that lob.
37:42Ryan Rollins answered for Milwaukee, and there is a thrust to the basket again by Brandon Williams.
37:49And I think he had Milwaukee's defense concerned with the lob, didn't he?
37:52Absolutely.
37:54That gave him that crease to attack and look for his own offense.
38:00Trent, no.
38:10Williams peered at the rim, turned down the outside shot to swing it to Middleton.
38:15A.J. Johnson, offensive rebound.
38:17Tyler Smith is blocked by Miles Turner.
38:21Miles Turner, twice in his career, has led the NBA in blocked shots over the course of a season.
38:25And blocks per game.
38:29Per game averages are how the scoring champ, rebound champ, block champ are determined each year.
38:36Speaking of block, but that's going to be a goaltend.
38:42The shot was on the descent, according to the referees on the court.
38:49That's pretty close, man.
38:54I think that's a little better angle.
38:56It is close, but it is a goaltending.
39:01The 34th defensive goaltending against the Mavs this year, tied now for the most of the NBA.
39:10Williams with Cissé running down the floor on the pick and roll.
39:13And a throwaway there.
39:14Milwaukee, bitten by that earlier.
39:18Turner steps into a three.
39:22He can do that.
39:24For Miles Turner's career, he is shooting nearly 39% on threes.
39:30And that's his number this year also.
39:32In the paint, thrown up by Middleton, draws a foul.
39:43Four in the quarter on Milwaukee.
39:47Ryan Rollins commits that foul.
39:50Rollins is leading all scores tonight with 15.
39:53Kuzma has 13 for me.
39:56Top-scoring Maverick player is Brandon Williams with 12.
40:00Middleton sitting on two with this trip to the line.
40:04I haven't been able to find a rhythm yet, but we've seen games like this with Chris where he just
40:08needs to get to the free throw line, get a layup, just to see the ball go through to find
40:15that rhythm.
40:15And then he can get hot in a New York minute.
40:18And, you know, he told Dana Larson in an interview that was, you know, you heard some of it earlier
40:22on the broadcast tonight.
40:24Dana has posted this on social media as well.
40:27He said it's always going to be odd to come back here as a visiting player.
40:30He had a great game in the opening game of the season here.
40:3423 points, went 9 out of 14 from the floor, but then played here on New Year's Eve, Devin, and
40:39didn't score.
40:39Went over 6.
40:40Wow.
40:45Gaffert denies Ryan Rollins.
40:48Gaff's still down.
40:50Rollins is back to his feet, but Gaff's still down.
40:56And we're due for a dead ball and a timeout on the floor.
41:00As Gaffert is down right now with 2.52 left to play in the second quarter.
41:07Well, he just missed time with a bruised shoulder.
41:11Missed a couple of games.
41:13And, again, this was a play that was called a defensive foul.
41:17Kevin Scott, on the explanation, said that the defender jumped point A to point B.
41:23And didn't give the shooter a place to land.
41:25So, the foul stands.
41:29And Rollins is on the free-throw line.
41:31A player whose scoring average has increased 11 points per game this year.
41:36He'd be in the conversation with Nikhil Alexander-Walker for the biggest jump in scoring from last year to this
41:42year.
41:42But Rollins didn't play enough games to qualify last year.
41:47That's an over-and-back by Brandon Williams.
41:54Turnover, Dallas.
41:57As they were bringing it up the floor after the Ryan Rollins free-throws.
42:02Now he stepped back.
42:04Does the step-back matter?
42:05Is it the ball that needs to go back and forth?
42:08What's the rule on that?
42:09I believe it's the step-back that matters in that case.
42:12And now it opens up for Kuzma.
42:14Even with the bump, he's still able to score.
42:25Kuzma with the ball.
42:29A crowd waiting for him in the lane.
42:32Drops it off for Dwight Powell, who's in.
42:34On the floater here, it's Middleton.
42:37Slapped away in an awkward fashion by Miles Turner.
42:42Kuzma leaves his feet.
42:43Gary Trent shoots a corner three.
42:45A.J. Green offensive rebound.
42:47Touch pass to Wallins.
42:48Swung it to Kuzma, and he's fouled.
43:02More free-throws here for the Bucs.
43:05They're 10 of 12 in the game.
43:08Dallas is 12 of 16 on free throws in the game.
43:13Kuzma 72% for the year as he goes to the line with precisely two minutes left in the first
43:19half.
43:21Maverick fans, you can join us in total line for free limited edition Mavs gear.
43:24Don't miss appearances from the Mavs street team, the Maniacs.
43:27And, of course, don't miss an appearance from Dallas Mavericks legend Tyson Chandler.
43:33He's coming up on April 4th, 5 to 7 p.m. on Preston Road in Plano.
43:40I do.
43:41I do have a top show for Tyson.
43:42I think that's going to be our live show.
43:44Very nice.
43:46On the 14th of April.
43:48Well, that will be something that, of course, we'll be discussing frequently on shows moving forward.
43:54And, of course, follow along with Mavs Studio 41 on social media for more information as Cooper hits in the
44:01paint.
44:05Miles Turner is 3 for 3.
44:07Made one earlier in the quarter.
44:09Cooper rebounds that miss and flings an outlet forward to Max Christie.
44:14Buckscott-Balkin built a wall in transition.
44:17Cooper cross for pass.
44:19Christie hits a needed three-pointer.
44:21He points to the heavens after connecting on that three-pointer,
44:25which for Max Christie is his first make of the game.
44:29One of seven.
44:33Going to have your ups and downs.
44:35And he was...
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