GAMEDAY: Milwaukee vs Dallas - 01/01/11

Head Coach Scott Skiles

On keys to the win ...
"We got off to a pretty good start, playing well until about the four-minute mark going into halftime. They came back and gained a little momentum, went back and forth. It was another game when we had to make plays to keep them at bay, and we were able to make them at both ends. Their 3-point shooting and [Jose] Barea kept them tight in the first half. We were able to at least get out and contest a few more in the second half, and get them off the line a little bit better."

On Earl Boykins' performance ...
"He was very good again, obviously. He came in, made shots. You know, Earl's one of the guys we have who can get it into the paint and somehow get it over people and still finish. Those are big plays. You don't get in the paint very often against good clubs; when you get in there you have to score, and [Earl's] been good at that."

On Dallas' zone defense ...
"They were in zone about 50 percent of the possessions tonight so they were in it quite a bit. We were up and down against it, but when we needed to make a shot, John [Salmons] made a couple big shots, Ersan [Ilyasova] was good again. At least when we needed a play we were able to make it."

Forward Corey Maggette

On keys to regaining lead and closing out the game...
"Earl Boykins. Earl's been coming in and putting up tremendous numbers for this team and really holding the fort down, because our star point guard is out. Earl is doing a terrific job, just coming in and holding us afloat. When he comes in, he comes in with a lot of energy and gets the tempo going. It's a faster tempo, he's a fast-break type of player, so he gets opportunities, starts it rolling and hits big shots and the team capitalized from there."

On looking ahead...
"As a unit you have to stay positive through all the turmoil, but that was in 2010, so in 2011 we're doing alright right now. Hopefully we can keep going, we have a few tough games ahead of us with Miami, Orlando and back with Miami. Hopefully we play hard and shoot the ball well. Tonight we had a great shooting night, thanks to Earl and some other guys and John [Salmons]. If we can kind of pick it up and improve our shooting during the next 15-20 games, it would give us a better opportunity."

Guard Earl Boykins

On tonight's game...
"It was big; tonight showed what we're capable of doing when we play with energy. Tonight we had the same type of energy we had against the Lakers, and that's what we need every night. If we play with that type of energy, we're a very good basketball team."

On his three-point shot out of the time out late in the game ...

• Tonight's game was the second time in franchise history the Bucks have played on New Year's Day. The last time Milwaukee played on New Year's Day was January 1, 1973 when they lost to Baltimore at the Milwaukee Arena. It is also the second time in franchise history the Mavericks have played on New Year's Day as well. The only other time Dallas competed on New Year's Day was January 1, 1983 in New Jersey.
  
  
• Shawn Marion (thigh) and Dirk Nowitzki (sprained right knee) did not dress for Dallas tonight. Caron Butler went down in the first quarter with a right knee injury and did not return. For Milwaukee, Luc Mbah a Moute went down with a mild concussion and did not return.
  
  
• The Bucks took a 25-18 lead at the end of the first quarter after a 14-4 run over the last 6:48 of the quarter. Milwaukee shot 10-20 (50.0 percent) from the field led by John Salmons' seven points.
  
  
• Milwaukee held a 52-50 lead at the break. The benches for both teams combined for 40 of the 59 points (Dallas 19; Milwaukee 21) in the quarter. Jose Barea led all scorers with 18 points at the half, 16 of which came in the second quarter. Earl Boykins led the Bucks with 12 points, 10 of which came in the second quarter. Ersan Ilyasova had 10 points and eight rebounds at the half.
  
  
• Dallas ended the first half on a 15-4 run getting 10 points from Jose Barea over the final four minutes.
  
  
• The Bucks have now held 12 of their last 13 opponents under 100 points. With tonight's win the Bucks improve to 7-6 during the span.
  
  
• John Salmons has now scored in double-digits in seven consecutive games tallying 21 points tonight. Entering tonight's game Salmons had been averaging 18.2 points over the previous six games and shooting 60.0 percent from the 3-point line. Tonight Salmons shot 2-4 (50.0 percent) from outside.
  
  
• Jose Barea led the Mavericks with a career high 29 points in tonight's game off the bench. Earl Boykins led Milwaukee with a season high 26 points, also coming off the bench.
  
  
• Ersan Ilyasova recorded his 1,500th career point in the second quarter of tonight's game. Ilyasova notched his fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and a career high 17 rebounds.
  
  
• Chris Douglas-Roberts reached a career feat of 1,000 career points in the third quarter.
  
  
• The Bucks out-rebounded the Mavericks 51-31 tonight and outscored Dallas 50-24 in points in the paint.
  
  
• Tonight's loss for Dallas snaps an eight game winning streak on the road, their second road loss of the season, and have now lost three consecutive games. It also gives Milwaukee a 2-0 sweep over the Mavericks this season, the first sweep for Milwaukee since the 2002-03 season. After tonight's loss the Mavericks are 17-4 in their last 21 games.

THE BOGUT BAROMETER - In Andrew Bogut's last 26 games played (dating back to last season), a Bucks foe has topped 100 points in regulation just twice (L.A. Lakers 118 on 11/16/10, @ Portland 106 on 12/20/10 - Boston scored 105 in overtime on 11/3/10). In those 26 games Bucks opponents are averaging 91.3 points (2,373) on 44.1 percent shooting (880-1,994). Bogut is one of just two players (along with Dwight Howard) to average at least 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

SWEET SALMONS - With his 18-point performance Tuesday against the Bulls, John Salmons has scored in double digits in the past six games and in 10 of the past 12. Over the six most recent games, he leads the Bucks in scoring with 18.2 points and has shot 60.0 percent (12-20) from 3-point range while pulling down 3.0 rebounds and handing out 3.2 assists.

THE DISH ON DOOLING - Keyon Dooling has dished out five or more assists in each of the last six games. Over those games, Dooling is averaging 12.3 points, 5.8 assists to 1.5 turnovers, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals. Over his last 12 games, Dooling has handed out 49 assists against eight turnovers. That's a 6.13:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. On the season, the Missouri alum has posted a 3.12:1 assist to turnover ratio (81:26).

NEARING NUMBERS - A few milestones are on the horizon for the Bucks: Chris Douglas-Roberts (996) is four points from 1,000; Drew Gooden is (447) three steals away from 450 and (395) five blocks away from 400; Ersan Ilyasova (1,491) is 9 points from 1,500; Scott Skiles (92) is eight wins away from his 100th victory with the Bucks.

NO EASY NEW YEAR - The Bucks are opening 2011 with a seven-game stretch in which their six opponents (they face Miami twice) have a combined 126- 67 (.653) record. Five of those six opponents have winning records and three of them (Dallas, 24-6; Miami, 25-9; San Antonio, 27-4) have nine or fewer losses on the season.

• The Bucks are looking to end a two-game skid tonight as they host the Mavericks in their first game of 2011.
  
  
• This is only the second time in franchise history that the Bucks have played on New Year's Day. The last time was 38 years ago, on Jan. 1, 1973, when the Bucks dropped an 88-87 decision to Baltimore at the Milwaukee Arena.
  
  
• The Bucks finished 2010 with a 6-7 record in the month of December, including a 3-3 mark at home.
  
  
• Luc Richard Mbah a Moute notched his third double-double of the season Tuesday night at Chicago with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Mbah a Moute recorded four total double-doubles in the 2009-10 season.
  
  
• The Bucks rank third in the league in opponent points-in-the-paint, allowing 35.9 per game. Over the past three games, the Bucks have allowed just 27.3 paint points while scoring 37.3 points themselves.
  
  
• In the past two games, the Bucks have outscored their opponent in fast break points, 36-22.
  
  
• The Bucks have held 11 of their last 12 opponents under 100 points and have gone 6-6 in that span. Ten of those 12 foes were held under their season average going into the game. Orlando scored 85 and averaged 99.3, Miami 88 and 100.7, Indiana 95 and 100.7, Houston 91 and 105.3, San Antonio 92 and 106.4, Utah 95 and 100.2, L.A. Lakers 79 and 106.4, Sacramento 79 and 94.9, Atlanta 95 and 96.5 and Chicago 90 and 99.7.