The visiting Milwaukee Bucks overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit and a career night from Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg to stun Dallas 116-114 on Monday.
The Mavericks had a chance to tie or win the game with 1.2 seconds left when P.J. Washington was fouled by Giannis Antetokounmpo while shooting a long 3-point attempt. Washington made the first free throw, and missed the second. He deliberately missed the third free throw, but the ball bounced away from a large crowd underneath the basket.
Flagg had a career-high 26 points for Dallas and was brilliant in the closing stages.
Dallas led 92-79 with 10:35 left in the game and appeared to have things in hand, but the Bucks rallied behind Antetokounmpo, who finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists, and Kyle Kuzma, who scored 26 points.
Milwaukee led 108-102 with five minutes left, but Dallas got the deficit down to one with two-plus minutes left before Flagg came alive. He scored on a drive to cap a 7-0 run and give the Mavericks a 109-108 lead.
The Mavericks led 113-112 after Flagg sank two foul shots and hit another layup, this one going right at Antetokounmpo with 28.7 seconds to go. Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins scored on a drive as the Dallas defense surged toward Antetokounmpo with 17.9 seconds left.
Dallas used its last timeout and set up at halfcourt. Washington inbounded the ball for Flagg, who slipped on the approach after some contact with Kuzma. Kuzma intercepted the pass and went in for a dunk to make it 116-113.
The Mavericks hurried down the floor and got a clean look for Max Christie for a 3-pointer, but it bounced away. Washington got the rebound and was fouled. Antetokounmpo signaled for a review, but the Bucks were out of challenges.
Antetokounmpo was held without a point in the first quarter, and the Mavericks led 31-27 after 12 minutes. The Mavericks were ahead 57-53 at halftime.
Dallas fell to 1-5 without star Anthony Davis (left calf strain) in the lineup.
