Irving and Thompson Lead Mavericks to Blowout Victory Over Bucks to End Preseason

Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson led the Mavericks to a dominant preseason finale win over the Bucks, showcasing strong performances and lineup adjustments ahead of the regular season.

Photo via Darah Hubbard

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks concluded their preseason with a 109-84 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night at the American Airlines Center. Led by strong performances from Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, Dallas secured its first preseason win, finishing 1-3.

The Bucks rested key players, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Dallas used the opportunity to fine-tune rotations and experiment with lineups, leading to a commanding performance.

Throughout the preseason, Kidd emphasized the importance of staying healthy, with several players sidelined. Luka Dončić (left calf contusion), Maxi Kleber (left ankle sprain), Kessler Edwards (left ankle sprain), and Danté Exum (right wrist) were all sidelined, but Kidd remained optimistic about their recovery.

“The number one goal is to stay healthy,” Kidd said. “You want to get work done, focus on a couple of things rotation-wise, but health is always important. You have to be healthy to have a chance to compete or win. Tonight, everyone had an opportunity to get their work in, and I thought they did a great job.”

Irving Sets the Tone Early, and Klay Finds His Rhythm

Kyrie Irving wasted no time setting the pace for the Mavericks, scoring 12 of his 14 points in the first quarter without missing a shot on the night. Dallas employed a mix of handoffs and off-ball screening actions to create opportunities as opposed to playing out of a heavy dose of high pick-and-roll, and Irving’s hot hand helped them recover from an early 10-7 deficit. A quick 6-0 run pushed Dallas to a 13-10 lead midway through the first. Both teams continued to keep it tight.

Despite trailing 22-21 at the end of the first quarter, Irving continued to lead until resting in the second half, having set up a strong foundation. He only played in two halves in the preseason but was dynamic in each of them, averaging 13.0 points on 9.0 field goal attempts per game, shooting 66.7% from the floor despite shooting 28.6% from deep and not attempting a free throw. He was highly efficient at the rim and as a shot-creator from inside the arc.

After missing his initial four shots, Thompson found his touch in the second quarter, sinking three of his next four from beyond the arc. He scored five quick points that helped Dallas reclaim the lead at 30-29. His transition three-pointer extended the advantage to 45-36, and another make—a contested corner three—pushed the Mavericks' lead to 50-36. Thompson finished with 11 points and six rebounds, demonstrating his ability to make a quick impact.

“It felt really good,” Thompson said. “Anytime you can hit back-to-back 3s in an NBA game, it’s a good feeling. I thought I had a third one, but it went in and out. It felt good to catch a good rhythm tonight.”