Mavs on the brink

They are up 54-39 with 2:50 left in the second quarter.

They are a good, strong finish to the half away from putting the Bucks into serious panic mode.

If they can push this lead past 20 before the half, they would have a great chance to rest some heavy lifters after halftime.

Of course, most of those players got plenty of rest Tuesday in San Antonio, where the Mavericks barely showed up.

--Eddie Sefko