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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
DALLAS (AP) -- Dennis Rodman says one thing hasn't changed since
he last played in the NBA 10 months ago -- the referees still have
it out for him.
|  | | Dennis Rodman just wouldn't stand for his first technical foul. |
Rodman pulled down 16 rebounds before being ejected in the
fourth quarter of the Dallas Mavericks' 112-99 loss to Milwaukee on
Tuesday night. Glenn Robinson led the Bucks with 29 points.
In only his second game back, Rodman drew his first ejection.
"I'm the first person they look for on the court," said Rodman
as he hurried down a hall toward the Reunion Arena parking lot
after setting a Dallas season-high for rebounds. "They always look
at me. Nothing has changed."
Rodman added six points and four assists.
With 7:13 left in the game and his team trailing 89-85, Rodman
contended that the Bucks should have been called for an illegal
defense.
When he continued to argue, referee Ken Mauer whistled Rodman for one technical. Rodman then sat on the court in protest, earning a technical from referee David Jones and an automatic ejection.
From that point, the Bucks closed with a 23-14 spurt.
"I didn't even say anything," Rodman said. "They just looked
at me and called it."
During the stoppage in play after Rodman was thrown out of the game, Mavericks owner-to-be Mark Cuban continued to yell at Jones from the tunnel leading to the locker room. "Better watch yourself," Jones told Cuban.
Dallas has lost both of its games with Rodman after winning
seven of eight in its most successful stretch of the season.
Mavericks coach Don Nelson defended Rodman, saying the Bucks
were guilty of an obvious illegal defense.
"They were certainly illegal on the play and then he didn't get
the call," Nelson said. "I'm not upset with anybody who gets
ejected. It happened to me not long ago."
Teammates said Rodman grew frustrated over several plays in the
second half when Rodman was involved in physical play and no fouls
were called against the Bucks.
"They were grabbing his shirt and that frustrated him," said
Mavericks guard Erick Strickland. "He didn't deserve to get ejected."
Said Mavericks captain Michael Finley: "The referees justified it by saying he showed them up and showed them no respect by
sitting on the floor."
Robinson's 14 fourth-quarter points prevented any Mavericks
comeback as the Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak. Robinson
hit all four 3-point attempts in the fourth quarter as the Bucks
put the game away with a 30-22 fourth quarter. As a team the Bucks
were five-for-six from beyond the arc in the final quarter.
"Glenn wasn't really shooting the ball that well until the
fourth quarter," said Bucks coach George Karl. "But when he gets
into a rhythm, it's our blessing. We have guys who can shoot the
ball."
Former Maverick Sam Cassell had 28 points and 13 assists and Ray
Allen added 27 points for Milwaukee.
Shawn Bradley matched his season high with 20 points for the
Mavericks. Michael Finley had 19 points and Dirk Nowitzki and Cedric Ceballos added 18 each.
Milwaukee erased a 14-point second-quarter deficit as Allen
scored nine third-quarter points to help the Bucks take an 82-77
lead onto the fourth quarter.
Rodman gave the Mavericks an early lift with six rebounds, two
assists and one point in the first quarter to help his team to a
24-19 lead. Rodman went scoreless with 13 rebounds in 32 minutes in
his debut with the Mavericks on Feb. 9.
After leading by as many as 14 in the second quarter, Dallas
held a 56-54 halftime advantage. In the first half Rodman had nine
rebounds, four assists and four points, including a three-point
play with 4:29 remaining until halftime.
Game notes
Finley extended his consecutive games streak to 346 games,
third-longest active streak in the league. ... At the All-Star
break, Dallas had lost a league-high 228 games to injuries and
illness. ... A defeat would have given the Bucks their longest
losing streak of the season. ... Cassell registered his 19th
double-double of the season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Milwaukee Clubhouse
Dallas Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 95
Philadelphia 93
Toronto 91
New York 70
Atlanta 103
New Jersey 86
Cleveland 92
San Antonio 81
Miami 107
LA Clippers 88
LA Lakers 88
Chicago 76
Denver 107
Minnesota 104
Milwaukee 112
Dallas 99
Houston 107
Detroit 102
Boston 101
Utah 99
Seattle 114
Washington 85
Portland 92
Golden State 83
Phoenix 117
Sacramento 108
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