SPORTS LINE
The Milwaukee Bucks.
With whistles blowing relentlessly, the Mavericks couldn’t find a way to stop the Milwaukee Bucks without fouling them and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard orchestrated a 132-117 victory over the Mavs at American Airlines Center. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, Damian Lillard scored 28. Gary Trent Jr. added 20 points as the Bucks won for the sixth time in seven games, surging into fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The teams combined to shoot 60 free throws, 35 of them by the Bucks. The Mavericks were outrebounded 52-33. The Bucks outshot the Mavericks, particularly in the middle quarters, when they outscored the Mavericks 70-43. The Bucks used Antetokounmpo as a playmaker much of the time and he responded with a huge night. The one-two punch of Lillard and Antetokounmpo gouged the Mavericks for a combined 59 points. And the Greek Freak had nine rebounds and nine assists to go with his 29 points. Milwaukee improved to 21-1 when scoring at least 120 points, which they did for the third time in the past four games. Lillard and Antetokounmpo combined to score Milwaukee’s final 13 points before the break, turning a one-point deficit into an eight-point edge. Lillard made the first bucket of the second half, which started with a 10-2 Milwaukee run for an 81-65 lead. The Bucks and Mavs meet again in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
The Milwaukee Brewers.
Two weeks into Spring Training and with games underway, the Brewers aren’t ready to name their new full starting lineup just yet. Some injured players are making their returns and are on track to make the Opening Day roster, some are not. Some who came into camp with outside chances of making the team all of a sudden find themselves in the lead for a spot. William Contreras is coming off a top-five NL MVP finish and is entrenched as the Brewers starting catcher. Contreras has put together a pair of strong seasons since joining the Brewers, garnering enough MVP votes to finish 11th in 2023 and fifth in 2024, earning NL Silver Slugger Awards both seasons and showing vastly improved defense when compared to his time with the Braves. Haase is the logical choice to back up Contreras. Despite entering his age-32 season, Haase is also in his first arbitration-eligible season. Haase had a huge spring for Milwaukee last year, hitting .395/.465/.868 with five homers, 14 RBIs, and 11 runs across 38 at-bats. Haase ultimately appeared in 30 games for the Crew, totaling 0.4 bWAR with a .273/.304/.515 line as he hit five homers, drove in 14, scored 10 runs, and picked up 18 hits in 69 plate appearances. The Brewers have a lot of depth with their bullpen and we look forward to seeing what they bring this season.
