DHJ Quick Take<\/p>\n
Attrition At Fiserv: The Dallas Mavericks enter Milwaukee severely shorthanded, missing seven key rotation players after Klay Thompson (rest) joined P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Marvin Bagley III on a bloated injury report.<\/p>\n
Gafford\u2019s Milestone: Amid the team\u2019s struggles, Daniel Gafford reached 4,000 career points during a 21-point performance against Minnesota, further cementing his status as the league\u2019s most efficient finisher with a career 71.0% field goal percentage.<\/p>\n
Flagg\u2019s Physical Education: Rookie Cooper Flagg looks to bounce back from a difficult shooting night against the Timberwolves\u2019 playoff-caliber defense, viewing the high-pressure matchups as vital preparation for his long-term development.<\/p>\n
MILWAUKEE \u2014 The Dallas Mavericks<\/a> will carry a battered roster into Fiserv Forum on Tuesday night, facing the Milwaukee Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back with their injury report still heavily populated.<\/p>\n Klay Thompson<\/a> has been downgraded to doubtful for rest, removing one of the Mavericks\u2019 top perimeter weapons from an already thin rotation. P.J. Washington<\/a> and Naji Marshall<\/a>, both sidelined by illness since Monday\u2019s contest, remain out. Marvin Bagley III<\/a>\u00a0will miss another game due to a left shoulder impingement, and\u00a0Caleb Martin<\/a>\u00a0(right plantar fascia strain) remains sidelined. Kyrie Irving<\/a> (left knee surgery) and Dereck Lively II<\/a> (right foot surgery) continue their long-term absences. <\/p>\n The back-to-back comes one night after a difficult 124-94 home loss to the Timberwolves<\/a>, in which Minnesota used a 19-2 first-quarter run to take control and never looked back. The Timberwolves led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Brandon Williams<\/a> acknowledged the quick turnaround directly but showed no hesitation about the group\u2019s readiness.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re professionals,\u201d Williams said. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing we haven\u2019t done before, especially on back-to-backs this year. So we should be ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel Gafford Carries The Load<\/p>\n Daniel Gafford<\/a> provided the brightest spot in Monday\u2019s loss, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and eight rebounds in his return from a two-game absence with a right shoulder sprain. The performance was also historically significant \u2014 Gafford reached 4,000 career points against Minnesota, a milestone he framed with characteristic perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just grateful to be able to play the game every day,\u201d Gafford said. \u201cI\u2019m just blessed by our good Lord and Savior just to be able to breathe and say that I\u2019m an NBA player. I take that with pride, and I just come out night in, night out and give my all. I thank all the people that have pushed me to be in this position \u2014 my family, my coaches, everything \u2014 because if it wasn\u2019t for any of them, I wouldn\u2019t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n It was Gafford\u2019s second career game with multiple 20-point performances after a shoulder injury, and the second time this season he has recorded back-to-back 20-point games. Since entering the league in 2019-20, his 71.0 field goal percentage leads all players in the NBA.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was good. Looked good, looked springy,\u201d Williams said of Gafford. \u201cI like him back in that mode. Trying to feed him the ball, get him some easy points to start off.\u201d<\/p>\n Gafford identified physicality and pace as the formula heading into Milwaukee.<\/p>\n \u201cReally just physicality and just pretty much playing with the pace that we play with all the time,\u201d Gafford told Dallas Hoops Journal. \u201cWhenever we have been in a position of just like all of our wins, like being the faster team. And of course being the most physical team.\u201d<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg Bounces Back From Difficult Night<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg<\/a> shot 5-of-19 from the field against Minnesota, starting one for his first 10 attempts against a defense that was deliberately physical with him throughout. Head coach Jason Kidd<\/a> attributed the struggles directly to the Timberwolves\u2018 playoff-caliber preparation.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were physical with Coop, understanding they\u2019re getting ready for the playoffs,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cIn the first half, they were really physical with him on the screens and stuff. I thought in the second half he was better.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Flagg finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks. He is averaging 20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 63 starts this season and has recorded eight career 30-point games \u2014 third-most by a teenager in NBA history, trailing only LeBron James<\/a> and Carmelo Anthony<\/a>. He has also compiled 11 career 20-point halves, more than the rest of this year\u2019s rookie class combined, per Elias Sports Bureau.<\/p>\n Williams showed the kind of veteran creativity around Flagg that has defined the season. On one sequence Monday, he declined an open layup to instead throw an alley-oop pass to Flagg to get him going.<\/p>\n \u201cJust wanted to get him going any type of way,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI know he was kind of struggling, came up to me during the game. It\u2019s like, I need him going. Just give him an easy look.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams has posted five-plus assists in six of his last eight games. Kidd credited his continued development as a playmaker.<\/p>\n \u201cHis decision-making of getting guys the ball \u2014 he\u2019s doing that at a very high level,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cComing down the stretch in Portland, he made some really key passes. Instead of him being able to score, he found Max on a pick-and-roll. So I think his development in running the team has grown here.\u201d<\/p>\n Gafford sees the ongoing challenges as developmental fuel for his young teammate.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps him understand how physical it gets around postseason play,\u201d Gafford told Dallas Hoops Journal. \u201cEvery night you\u2019re going to have the best defender on you, teams trying to get into your airspace and make everything tough. With the type of player Coop is, it\u2019s only going to help him in the long run because he\u2019s going to learn from it and develop into a better player.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuesday in Milwaukee is one of six remaining chances for Flagg to add to his ROY case.<\/p>\n Dallas Mavericks\u2019 Home Losing Streak Looms<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s result extended Dallas\u2019s home losing streak to 13 games \u2014 the longest in American Airlines Center\u2019s 25-year history and the longest since the franchise dropped its first 19 games at the since-demolished Reunion Arena to begin the 1993-94 season. The road trip to Milwaukee offers an opportunity to reset.<\/p>\n Milwaukee Bucks Bring A Foe With Nothing To Lose<\/p>\n The Bucks enter Tuesday having lost four straight and 10 of their last 12, with their nine-consecutive-season playoff streak coming to an end. Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> has been shut down, and Kevin Porter Jr.<\/a> is also out. Myles Turner<\/a> is available, and Kyle Kuzma<\/a> is listed as probable after sitting out Sunday\u2019s 127-113 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Gary Trent Jr.<\/a> led Milwaukee with 36 points in that contest.<\/p>\n Dallas has lost seven straight to Milwaukee and four of its last five trips to Fiserv Forum. The teams met earlier this season in a 116-114 Bucks victory at American Airlines Center in November, with Flagg posting 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists in the loss.<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s game was originally scheduled for January 25 before a North Texas ice storm forced a postponement.<\/p>\n Dallas Mavericks Official Injury Report: Tuesday At Milwaukee Bucks<\/p>\n Marvin Bagley III (left shoulder impingement) \u2014 OUT<\/p>\n Kyrie Irving<\/a> (left knee surgery) \u2014 OUT<\/p>\n Dereck Lively II<\/a> (right foot surgery) \u2014 OUT<\/p>\n Caleb Martin<\/a> (right plantar fascia strain) \u2014 OUT<\/p>\n Naji Marshall (illness) \u2014 OUT<\/p>\n P.J. Washington (illness) \u2014 OUT<\/p>\n Klay Thompson (rest) \u2014 DOUBTFUL<\/p>\n Moussa Ciss\u00e9 (G League\/Two-Way) \u2014 QUESTIONABLE<\/p>\n John Poulakidas<\/a> (G League\/Two-Way) \u2014 PROBABLE<\/p>\n