NBA highlights on Jan. 6: Spurs' season-best 3-pointers do in Bucks
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DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs prepares to shoot against the Milwaukee Bucks at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 6, 2020.

DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs prepares to shoot against the Milwaukee Bucks at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 6, 2020.

Known as a mid-range shooting team for the past few seasons, the Spurs are starting to comprehend why San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich has implored them to shoot more 3-pointers.

DeMar DeRozan had 25 points and the San Antonio Spurs had a season-high 19 3-pointers to beat Milwaukee 126-104 on Monday night, snapping the Bucks five-game winning streak.

"It's big, confidence building," DeRozan said. "Letting us know we could compete with the best teams in this league."

San Antonio finished 19 for 35 on 3-pointers in handing Milwaukee it's largest defeat of the season.

Patty Mills added 21 points, including 6 for 10 on 3-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay added 18 points each, going a combined 4 for 5 on 3-pointers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for Milwaukee and Donte DiVincenzo added 16 points.

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks tries to drive over Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 6, 2020.

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks tries to drive over Jakob Poeltl #25 of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half at AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 6, 2020.

Four games after setting a season-high with 18 3-pointers against Detroit, the Spurs bested that mark when Gay hit the team's 19th against Milwaukee.

Aldridge has keyed that run, going 16 for 23 on 3-pointers in his last five games.

"With LaMarcus joining us on the 3-point line and having the ability to knock them down, it does wonders in terms of spacing," Mills said.

Aldridge has shot so well on 3s that the Bucks almost overlooked DeRozan's mid-range game.

"We have a ton of respect for (DeRozan)," Milwaukee coach Mike Budenholzer said. "I think the way Aldridge has been shooting the 3-point shot over the last five, six, seven games, a lot of talk was about, 'Could we reduce those.' He had a huge first quarter, first half on Saturday. I don't want to say live with DeRozan's 2s, but to some degree (we did), but I still think it's the 3-point line where they beat us."

The Bucks, whose last loss was Dec. 25 at Philadelphia, maintain the league's best record at 32-6.

George Hill #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 6, 2020.

George Hill #3 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, January 6, 2020.

Popovich somewhat agreed when asked if this was the Spurs' most complete game of the season.

"It'd be hard to argue against that, I think," he said. "The physicality was good. We started out the third quarter a little poorly as we have, going to try to figure that out, but I thought we were more consistent tonight in our physicality and executing game plan, we were more consistent. It was a good night."

Milwaukee defeated San Antonio 127-118 on Saturday at home but could not maintain its early momentum in a rare home-and-home, back-to-back games.

Doncic's big 3rd quarter leads Mavericks over Bulls 118-110

In another game, Doncic scored 21 points in the third quarter and had his NBA-leading 11th triple-double of the season to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the Chicago Bulls 118-110 Monday night.

Doncic scored 17 of the Mavs' 19 points in the final 5:35 of the third to break open what had been a tie game. His 3 gave Dallas a 72-69 lead it would not relinquish.

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against Shaquille Harrison #3 of the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, January 6, 2020.

Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against Shaquille Harrison #3 of the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, January 6, 2020.

"I thought tonight the most impressive thing about his game was his demeanor and his disposition and his poise," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "Teams are sending athletic guys to be physical and banging him, and he really stayed level-headed."

The 20-year-old scored at least 20 in a quarter for the second time this season. He hit three 3s over that decisive stretch and scored four other times on drives to the basket, including a rainbow floater that banked in as he was getting fouled. His only blip was missing the subsequent free throw.

"For me, all that matters is we got to win," Doncic said. "We needed that win coming from a loss (in overtime to Charlotte on Saturday) that we should have won. My team is helping a lot. We just played tough from the start to the end and that's how it's got to be."

Lauri Markkanen led the Bulls with 26 points, starting the game despite spraining his left ankle Saturday night against Boston.

Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls takes a shot against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, January 6, 2020.

Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls takes a shot against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, January 6, 2020.

"I was proud of Markkanen fighting through. (He) played his heart out," Chicago coach Jim Boylen said. "I thought our guys played really hard, competed."

Chicago stayed close throughout the game, even after losing forward Wendell Carter Jr. to a right ankle sprain with 8:25 left in the third quarter. Chicago went on a quick 10-2 run after Carter's injury to tie the score at 69 before Doncic took over.

Source(s): AP