The Dallas Mavericks have had both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving together on the court for six games, and te superstar duo definitely has some work to do to transform the Mavericks into a serious contender in the Western Conference. The team’s record in those six games is 2-4, but Thursday’s win showed over Philadelphia showed how high the ceiling can be – and how tenuous contending can be with this team. Doncic put up 42 points, and Kyrie added 40 in a 133-126 win. Dallas led by 25 at one point in the third, only for Philadelphia to get within four points before Dallas pulled away again. This was the first time in franchise history that two Mavericks had scored at least 40 points in the same game. A key factor was Doncic’s intentional passing to Irving in the early going, getting both players going on offense.
How will the 76ers respond when they face the Milwaukee Bucks? That’s one of our two NBA betting matchups from the Association for this weekend.
NBA News: Top NBA Bets for the Weekend
Philadelphia 76ers at Milwaukee Bucks (8:30 pm ET, ABC)
Saturday, March 4
That loss in Dallas makes three setbacks in four games for the 76ers, who had lost to Boston and Miami at home by a combined six points before beating Miami down in Florida by 23. In the loss to the Mavericks, Joel Embiid scored 35 points after resting for load management the night before in Miami. With Embiid and James Harden on the bench, the 76ers went on a 15-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Harden made his first 11 shots to start the game – five field goals and six free throws – and he had 19 points and 10 assists in the first half.
Things don’t get much easier for the 76ers as they head to Milwaukee. The Bucks have a 16-game winning streak going now after beating Orlando, 139-117, at home on Wednesday. Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 31 points, and the Bucks dropped 26 three-pointers to set a season best. Grayson Allen, Brook Lopez, A.J. Green, and Joe Ingles each made four shots from distance, and Antetokounmpo and Pat Connaughton knocked down three apiece. Three-point barrages from Dallas sank the 76ers on Thursday, so they will need to make perimeter defense more of a priority. Milwaukee to win.
Golden State Warriors at L.A. Lakers (3:30 pm ET, ABC)
Sunday, March 5
The Warriors have bounced back from a stretch in which they lost four of five to win four in a row, taking down Houston, Minnesota, Portland and the Clippers. Their win over the Clippers was a 115-91 laugher on Thursday that saw the Warriors playing without Stephen Curry or Andrew Wiggins. The Clippers led, 56-45, at halftime, but the Warriors won the third quarter, 42-16, and added nine more to their advantage in the fourth. Jordan Poole led the Warriors with 34 points, and Klay Thompson had 19 points and set a career high with 11 rebounds. Draymond Green chipped in 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a grinding, physical effort.
Next up is a date with the Lakers down in Hollywood. The Lakers had won three in a row but have split their last two, losing in Memphis by 12 before winning in Oklahoma City by six on Wednesday. Dennis Schroder had 26 for the Lakers, 22 in the second half. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both missed the game with right foot injuries, and D’Angelo Russell missed the game with a sprained right ankle, but Troy Brown Jr set a season-best mark with 19 points, and Austin Reaves added 19 more. With LeBron out and AD questionable, it’s hard to see the Lakers beating the Warriors, though, even at home. Golden State to win.
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