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Sunday, Dec. 5 7:00pm ET
Cassell's 6 steals, 18 assists career highs | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Sam Cassell is the kind of point guard who looks to shoot first and pass second, sometimes to the displeasure of his teammates. He did a whole lot of shooting and passing Sunday night, and his teammates were quite happy. Cassell dominated the game with 16 points and a career-high 18 assists as the Milwaukee Bucks held off the scrappy Dallas Mavericks 103-97. "When Sam's on, we just feed off him," said Ray Allen, who had 20 points. "He had it going tonight, and we just got open for him." Cassell, who had 23 points and 15 assists at Chicago on Saturday, emphatically put his early season offensive troubles behind him with a marvelous weekend of play. His six steals also were a career-high, and his sometimes out-of-control offensive game was finely tuned. "I just made a conscious decision to get the ball to my teammates in the right places," Cassell said. "I've got guys around me who can knock shots down." Michael Finley was almost as impressive for the Mavericks. He had 29 points, including 12 during a last-minute rally that cut Milwaukee's 21-point fourth-quarter lead to 97-91 with 40 seconds to play. But Glenn Robinson, who finished with 17 points, hit a short jumper and Finley turned the ball over. Damon Jones hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds, but Cassell hit two free throws to seal the win. Ervin Johnson had 15 points for Milwaukee, and Tim Thomas added 13. Jones and Hubert Davis had 18 points apiece for the Mavs. Milwaukee, which never trailed and led by 20 points early in the second quarter, beat the Mavs for the sixth straight time as Dallas saw its two-game winning streak snapped. Dallas finished a five-game road trip with a 2-3 record. "Not one starter had a good game," said Mavs coach Don Nelson, who apparently wasn't watching Finley. "We're a little weary, but I don't want to use that as an excuse." The Bucks (10-7) won for the second time in two days and kept pace in the logjam atop the Central Division. Milwaukee is tied with Charlotte and Indiana, and all three teams trail Toronto by one game. "We're still learning how to win and how to close teams out," Cassell said. "As long as we win enough to stay at the top of our division, we'll be in good shape when we really kick it in." The Bucks blew a 17-point lead at Chicago on Saturday night before hanging on to beat the Bulls 92-91. At times, Milwaukee appeared ready to lose another big lead Sunday by committing an uncharacteristic 24 turnovers, including six by Cassell. The Bucks lead the league in turnover margin. Dallas closed within eight at 69-61 in the final minute of the third quarter, but the Bucks made a 13-2 run in the next four minutes that appeared to put the game away. Cassell keyed the run with three assists and six points, including a behind-the-back move on a layup drive. "He had a terrific game," Nelson said of Cassell. "He didn't beat us with his scoring. He beat us with his passing." Consecutive thunderous dunks by Thomas on passes from Cassell put Milwaukee up by 18 with seven minutes left. One minute later, Thomas dunked on 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Dallas Clubhouse Milwaukee Clubhouse RECAPS Toronto 98 San Antonio 92
Milwaukee 103
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