Both the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks have looked strong over the last few weeks. Dallas locked up a playoff berth on Wednesday night, and the Mavericks are currently in line to be the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Milwaukee will lock up a playoff berth with its next win, and the Bucks are currently in line for the No. 2 seed in the East. Both teams don’t have a lot of room for error if they want to hold on to their spots though as the race for the top spots are tight.
Dallas Mavericks at Milwaukee Bucks
When: Sunday, April 3, 2022, 1 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TV: ABC
NBA Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
It’s been impressive to watch Dallas over the last three months. The Mavericks were 16-18 on December 30 and looked like they would miss the playoffs. However, they have thrived in the new year and are 32-11 since that point. They have struggled away from home, but they have been fantastic in the Metroplex and hammered the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night before going to Cleveland and taking down the Cavaliers last night. Dallas will take on Washington in the nation’s capital on Friday night prior to this game.
Milwaukee is just one game behind Miami for the top spot in the East. The Bucks have a game on Philadelphia and Boston, and they know how important home court advantage is in the postseason. They bested the Sixers in Philadelphia on Tuesday night thanks to a great play from Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they will have to take on the Nets in Brooklyn on Thursday night. Milwaukee has a tough slate next week with games against Dallas, Chicago, and Boston, so the Bucks know they can’t take their foot off the gas pedal if they want to be one of the top seeds.
What to Watch
The stars for both teams missed the previous meeting between these two teams this season. Antetokounmpo did not take part in Milwaukee’s 102-95 win over Dallas just before Christmas, and Luka Doncic missed the game for the Mavericks. Both players have played at an MVP caliber level over the last three months though, and they should both be named First Team All-NBA selections.
Antetokounmpo could win his third MVP award in a few weeks. While a lot of attention has been paid to Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, more and more media members are looking at Antetokounmpo as the MVP this season. He is second in the NBA with a 32.48 PER, and he is ranked in the top five in points (29.9 PPG) and rebounds (11.6 RPG).
Antetokounmpo is making 55.2% of his field goals, and his scoring efficiency is an absurd 1.602.
Doncic has had a special year too. He is averaging 28.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 8.5 APG, and he looks much better than he did at the start of the season. There is no doubt that any team would rather have Doncic than Trae Young although there were naysayers last year, and he is getting it done without a lot of talent around him.
Dallas Mavericks at Milwaukee Bucks Free Pick
Milwaukee will be favored at home provided Antetokounmpo and other stars are playing. The Mavericks have been great over the second half of the season, but they are just 21-17 on the road and don’t have the same talent surrounding their superstar. That will give the Bucks too much of an advantage, and they will be able to take care of business against the Mavericks on Sunday afternoon.
Mavericks at Bucks Best Bet: Milwaukee
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