In a match that everyone was waiting for, notably opposing Luka Doncic to Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Mavs totally cracked in the money-time while the victory was literally… in their hands. Defeat 106-105 once morest the Bucks, Dallas will have to work on his free throws.
10/24 on throws.
You read that right, 10/24 on throws.
We can take the meeting in all directions, come back to several facts of the game, but it is impossible to start with anything other than one of the most important gestures of basketball, which is to return his throws. Before that, let’s give credit where credit is due. Milwaukee fought collectively to dismiss the Mavs at home, notably behind Giannis’ big second half (28 points), a solid defense and some well-placed banderillas by George Hill.
It got off to a bad start for the Bucks when, a few minutes from the end of the match, Giannis Antetokounmpo took his 6th foul following a bad close-out on Tim Hardaway Jr. We wondered then if the 2021 champions would find the parade, winning without their best player. A big basket from Khris Middleton at the post will help, as well as this marvel of system designed by Mike Budenholzer to give the winning basket to Brook Lopez.
System WONDER to free Brook Lopez! Mike Budenholzer ????
(PS: how are the Mavs in defense?!)pic.twitter.com/wGOoNsNX9B
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) December 10, 2022
But none of this should have happened, and the Mavs know that better than anyone.
In a meeting where the win was served on a tray, Jason Kidd’s men threw him out the window without flinching.
Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dwight Powell, Tim Hardway Jr and Luka Doncic: 8 missed shots in the last 6 minutes, including the last 5 by DFS and THJ. How not to freak out in front of such a sad performance? Nationally, while Giannis was out for 6 fouls and there was more to finish the job, the Mavs simply cracked. And so it was the Bucks, probably also in shock, who left with the win at the buzzer, Luka’s last shot at the buzzer being well contested by the imperturbable Jrue Holiday.
A Doncic who will also leave the field without checking his opponents like his teammates, frustrated by this sad scenario. The franchise player from Dallas can sulk, however he must look at himself first in the mirror (4/10) concerning this famous line of throws.
Next game for the Mavs, in Chicago tonight, back-to-back.