Parsons scores 28 in Mavericks’ runaway win over the Bucks
After a dud of a game Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, the Dallas Mavericks showed some much-needed resiliency Sunday night with a solid overall performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Chandler Parsons led a balanced attack with 28 points and the Mavs scooted to an easy 125-102 victory over the Bucks before a sellout crowd of 19,413 at American Airlines Center.
The win increased the Mavs’ record to 16-6 and helped erase some of the bad memories they were carrying after the Suns came into the AAC and spanked Dallas 118-106.
“So far we’ve demonstrated good resilience,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “You just want to avoid getting punched in the gut.”
Unlike Friday, this time around it was the Mavs who did the punching.
After collecting a paltry 13 assists against the Suns, the Mavs moved the ball briskly and handed out 29 helpers against Milwaukee (11-11). And after the Suns converted 13 of 26 shots from 3-point territory, the Mavs limited the Bucks to 4-of-15 from beyond the arc.
The four triples are the fewest the Mavs have allowed any opponent this season.
“This is a big win for us on our home court,” said Parsons, who was 11-of-14 from the field. “We need to protect our home court after how we played the last game.”
With Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo in the house and eagerly watching, the Mavs shot a sizzling 58.3 percent from the field, got 48 points from their bench, and also finished with 14 steals and eight blocked shots.
Spearheaded by eight points from Parsons, the Mavs used a 19-6 run over last final 6:16 of the third period to enter the fourth quarter comfortably ahead 90-71. Parsons popped in a pair of 3-pointers in the surge, which put the Bucks on their heels and helped the Mavs score 120-plus points for the sixth time this season.
“I got a couple of easy ones early and I think when that happens you gain confidence, and it just seems like you can throw a lot of things in there,” Parsons said. “My teammates did a great job finding me.
“I’m going to knock down some shots. I’m not going to shoot this poorly all year long.”
Besides Parsons, the Mavs got 21 points from Dirk Nowitzki, 19 from Monta Ellis and 10 off the bench from Richard Jefferson. Reserves Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright and J.J. Barea combined to add 26 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists as the Mavs’ bench outscored the Bucks 48-31.
“I knew my time would come and I just wanted to play good basketball when I got out there,” said Crowder, who had nine points and three steals in 26 minutes. “I let the game come to me tonight.
“I didn’t force anything, and everything felt natural out there.”
Since the Mavs are now preparing to face the iron part of their schedule — they play at Memphis on Tuesday, then host New Orleans on Wednesday and Golden State on Saturday — Carlisle was glad to limit his regulars’ minutes against the Bucks.
Nowitzki made 8 of 12 shots in 26 minutes, Ellis was 7-of-13 from the field and played only 29 minutes, and Tyson Chandler finished with seven points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 24 minutes. That was extremely key on a night when the Mavs led 32-21 after the first period and 59-46 at intermission while putting themselves in position to get some added rest.
“With obviously Memphis playing some great basketball, and back-to-back here is never easy,” Nowitzki said. “And then New Orleans, and then obviously Golden State is probably the best team in the league right now.
“So we’ve got a tough week ahead of us.”
But at least the Mavs will enter this portion of their schedule after showing some resiliency Sunday night.
Dwain Price, 817-390-7760
This story was originally published December 7, 2014 at 11:15 PM with the headline "Parsons scores 28 in Mavericks’ runaway win over the Bucks."