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Bucks survive Mavs

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Khris Middleton made a couple of huge 3-pointers and the Milwaukee Bucks overcame poor free-throw shooting to snap the Dallas Mavericks’ four-game winning streak.

Middleton scored eight points of his 25 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes of the Bucks’ 112-109 victory Friday night. Middleton took over after James Johnson’s corner 3-pointer with 3:09 left put Dallas ahead 104-103 — the Mavericks’ first lead since the opening five minutes.

“He’s just a great decision-maker,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “He knows to take what the defense gives him. If he’s got a shot, he’s an incredible shot-maker, but he’s an incredible playmaker. … He’s just a great finisher.”

Middleton’s 3-pointer put the Bucks ahead for good at 106-105 with 2:21 left. Middleton hit another 3-pointer 34 seconds later to make it 109-105. He also hit a pair of free throws with 7.8 seconds remaining to finish with 25 points.

Those free throws were particularly noteworthy on a night when nobody could connect consistently from the foul line.

The Bucks were 12 of 25 on free throws, with Giannis Antetokounmpo going 1 of 10 and missing all seven of his fourth-quarter attempts. Dallas was 6 of 13.

“He’s just got to keep working through the free-throw line, continue to put the time in, grow his confidence and step up and make them,” Budenholzer said.

Antetokounmpo still scored 31 points as the Bucks won their fourth straight. Luka Doncic had 28 points and 13 rebounds for Dallas, which also got 22 points from Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Mavericks entered the night having won 11 of the last 14 regular-season meetings with the Bucks. Dallas also swept two preseason matchups in Milwaukee last month.

Milwaukee went 0-2 against Dallas and 56-15 against the rest of the NBA during the 2019-20 regular season.

Dallas had chances to win this one late as well after trailing by as many as 14 early, but Trey Burke and Kristaps Porzingis missed potential go-ahead 3-point shots in the final 21 seconds.

Doncic appeared to want a timeout to be called once Dallas got the offensive rebound off Burke’s miss. The Mavs instead worked the ball to Porzingis, who missed with 10.4 seconds left.

CELTICS 124, MAGIC 97

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 21 points and eight assists, Semi Ojeleye added 18 points and Boston rolled past Orlando in the Celtics’ return following a virus-related week-long hiatus.

THUNDER 127, BULLS 125, OT

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 33 points to help Oklahoma City beat Chicago.

CAVALIERS 106, KNICKS 103

CLEVELAND (AP) — Andre Drummond tied his career high with 33 points and grabbed 23 rebounds, and Cedi Osman scored 25 points in Cleveland’s victory over New York.

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