Coach Quinn Buckner sees a bright future for his Dallas Mavericks - if only they can work past the misery of the present, including a 20-game losing streak that ties an NBA record.
"It is a struggle, but it's one we have to push through," Buckner said after his Mavericks built an early lead, only to lose 96-86 Wednesday night to the Milwaukee Bucks. "We have yet to put together 48 minutes (of good play). Until we do that, we will continue to struggle."The Mavericks' season record slipped to 1-23 going into tonight's game with the Timberwolves at Minnesota - the same place Dallas won its only game on Nov. 12.
A loss would surpass the record of 20 consecutive losses in a season set by the Philadelphia 76ers from Jan. 9 to Feb. 11, 1973. Cleveland has the overall record for losses with 24 straight over a two-season span in 1982.
That same 1972-73 Philadelphia team holds the record for least wins in a season with nine - a record Dallas threatened last season before a late spurt to 11 wins.
"The last two years have been a nightmare," said veteran guard Derek Harper of the Mavericks. "It's been frustrating. This is tough for anybody to deal with."
"It's extremely tough because you go out and work hard every night," said Mavericks guard Jim Jackson, a first-round draft pick last year. "Every time you lose, I don't care if it's one game or 20, it still hurts."
Todd Day, who came off the bench to lead the Bucks with 21 points, said he understands how the Mavericks feel. Last year, Milwaukee started strong only to finish out of the playoffs at 28-54. This year, the Bucks are 6-18 overall and 2-8 at home.
"It's frustrating," he said. "Guys come from winning programs in college and then to step into something like that, it's tough. But they're not as bad as their record indicates."
Jamal Mashburn, the Mavericks' top draft pick this year, finished with 29 points Wednesday night and agreed with Buckner that once the team is able to play consistently well through an entire game, "we will be capable of beating many people.
"We can't just play half a ball game," he said. "We can't put that type of pressure on us."
Buckner says he's not distracted by the loss record and resulting media attention.
"The record just says something, quite frankly, historical, and it's a media kind of a deal," he said, adding that his focus is on trying to improve game to game.
But Bucks coach Mike Dunleavy said his team "absolutely" felt pressure to win because of Dallas' record streak.
"No matter what (the Mavericks) say, they knew that it was 20. . . . The players knew, and they have pride. They didn't want 20 to come up," Dunleavy said. "So we knew we were going to be in for a tough night. They were going to play hard."
The Mavericks scored the first five points of the game on a three-point play by Mashburn and a reverse layup by Jackson. A jump shot by Fat Lever and free throw by Mashburn made it 25-18 after one quarter, but the Bucks took their first lead at 39-38 on Vin Baker's basket late in the half. Milwaukee led 46-42 at halftime and 71-60 after three periods.
Tim Legler's 3-pointer pulled Dallas to 71-63 early in the fourth quarter, but the Bucks scored on a layup by Baker, who later added two free throws to make it 76-64.
Dallas came back to 92-84 with 2:52 left on two free throws by Sean Rooks before a dunk by Day helped the Bucks pull away.
Bulls 106, Timberwolves 98
B.J. Armstrong sprained his left ankle in the fourth minute of the game and didn't return, but reserve Steve Kerr's 17 points in 41 minutes supported the 21 points by fellow reserve Toni Kukoc against visiting Minnesota.
The Bulls, whose 11-1 record in the last 12 games corresponds to Pippen's return from an ankle injury, led 80-72 early in the fourth quarter before Kerr's 3-pointer keyed an 8-0 run that put Chicago ahead 88-72 with 6:57 left.
Clippers 109, Bullets 92
Los Angeles won at home against Washington behind 24 points each from Ron Harper and Mark Aguirre.
Don MacLean and reserve Kenny Walker scored 19 points each for Washington. Danny Manning had the first triple-double of his six-year career with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for Los Angeles. Manning's points were a season-low.
Hawks 108, Celtics 103
Atlanta set a team record with its seventh straight road victory and 16th triumph in 17 games overall as Kevin Willis scored a season-high 32 points.
Stacey Augmon had 19 points for Atlanta, whose previous franchise record for consecutive road victories was six in 1968-69.
Heat 98, 76ers 90
Miami won for the first time ever at Philadelphia as Glen Rice scored 25 points.
Clarence Weatherspoon and Dana Barros had 17 points each for the Sixers, who won the first 11 meetings between the teams at the Spectrum. Steve Smith added 19 points for the Heat.