Luka Doncic collected 34 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists and a career-high four blocks in Dallas' 104-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, leading the Mavericks to their FOURTH straight victory. More good news came in the form of Kristaps making four 3-pointers to highlight his 16-point performance in his season debut. The 7-foot-3 Porzingis (20.4 & 9.5 LY) was playing for the first time since tearing his meniscus in his right knee during the Mavericks' playoff setback to the Los Angeles Clippers back in August. The now 6-4 Mavs travel to Milwaukee on Friday to take on the Bucks, who have had the league's best record in each of the last two regular seasons. Milwaukee opened 2-3 this season but enters this game having won SIX of seven to reach 8-4 on the season.

It's GREAT news that Porzingis is back to join Doncic (27.4-9.6-8.3) but here's what the injury list looks like for the Mavericks. Maxi Kleber: out (health and safety protocols), Jalen Brunson: out (health protocols), Dorian Finney-Smith: out (health protocols), Dwight Powell: out (health protocols), Josh Richardson: out (health protocols). Going down the line. Kleber is averaging 7.4 & 5.3, Brunson 11.1, Finney-Smith 9.3 & 5.0, Powell 5.0 & 3.6 and Richardson 13.8.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.2-10.1-5.5 and SF Middleton (21.6-6.3-5.7) is off to a terrific start. Jrue Holiday has been a big addition (no one misses Bledsoe), averaging 15.2 PPG and 5.0 APG. The 6-10 Portis (11.8 & 7.8) has also been a strong addition, while returning guard DiVincenzo (10.7 & 4.2) and center Brook Lopez (9.2 & 4.8) have both started all 12 games.

Milwaukee may be "just" 8-4 and only owns a 6-6 ATS mark but the Bucks own the NBA's best point-differential at plus-11.4 PPG. That is as good an indicator as any as to the strength of a team. Lay the points here, against a Dallas team nowhere near 100%!

Good luck...Larry