Giannis Antetokounmpo had 40 points (32 in the paint) and 15 rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Dallas Mavericks 132-125 for their fourth straight win.
Antetokounmpo’s 2 free throws put the Bucks ahead for good with 5:06 left in the fourth quarter.
The Mavericks got within 127-125 on Kyrie Irving’s three-point play with 1:26 to play, but Pat Connaughton answered with a corner 3-pointer, and the Mavericks got no closer.
Antetokounmpo’s 15-foot pull-up jumper with 29.7 seconds left made it 132-125 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Bucks outscored the Mavericks 17-7. Damian Lillard (No. 3 in clutch points, 2023-24) scored 7 of the Bucks’ 17 on 1 for 2 shooting and 4 for 4 at the line.
Lillard had 27 points and 12 assists. Antetokounmpo scored 15 of his 40 points in the fourth quarter.
For the Mavericks, Irving had 39 points and 6 assists, and Luka Dončić added 35 points (10 during a 16-0 run across the second and third quarters), 9 rebounds and 9 assists. The Mavericks had 2 30-point scorers.
The Bucks shot 52.1% from the field and 37.8% from 3 to the Mavericks’ 49.5% and 34.0%. The Mavericks forced 7 turnovers, about 8 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Bucks’ starters were outscored 26-14 in 8 minutes together.