Season 57...Featured Game 5...Dallas at Milwaukee

DALLAS 75, MILWAUKEE 74

DEMONS IN A SQUEAKER

MILWAUKEE -- It came down to a short jumper with 2 ticks left by the league's leading scorer, Itstha Bishop of Milwaukee, which would have given the home team Greyhounds the lead. But not only was Bishop's shot off the mark, it was blocked by Dallas Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn, and in a familiar conclusion, the five-time-defending-champs had their 13th consecutive win dating back to last season.

For the second game in a row, Mighty Dallas escaped with a close victory, (having just bested Philadelphia by 3 in their previous win) and once again go into the halftime break with a perfect 5-0 mark, perched atop the East Division. 

The win in this game came with a less-than-scintillating 51.6 percent shooting (0 for 11 from deep), built on a strong performance of the Dallas front court and a ball-popping 22 assists. 

Dallas may have lost last season's league MVP Vicious Hick to free agency, but they seem to be winning with pure muscle memory.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...Fresh off of announcing his retirement at the end of this season, the best center in Dallas history, BIGGUS DICKUS, dominated Milwaukee's helpless rookie center Dave Cowhand, scoring a team-high 26 points on 12 of 13 shooting (2 for 2 at the foul line). The reliable 7-footer, who has played a major role in every one of his team's five most recent titles, is having his best season in the pivot in this, his sixth campaign. His 19.2 scoring average is by far his best ever (best previous was 13.5), as the big guy has taken up the scoring slack left by the departed Hick. Always a clutch defender, Dickus led everyone in this game with 8 points prevented and was also the game's top rebounder with 7. He added 1 steal, 1 blocked shot and 1 assist. He's currently in a brutal battle to get his first All-MBA foil star with Oklahoma City's Poop-Rupiah 3000, and is a clinch to make his fourth All Star Game. The ASG honor would give him 9 awards, one short of Hall of Fame status. A championship ring would secure that vaunted status.

Other 20-plus GVP performances

33 GVP...Milwaukee power forward Zippy Wunderslug...27 points...5 rebounds...1 steal.

26 GVP...Milwaukee shooting guard Itstha Bishop...20 points...5 rebounds...1 assist.

22 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...9 points...6 assists...3 rebounds...2 steals...2 blocks.

20 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame small forward Pete "the Steakman" Marzano...11 points...5 rebounds...2 assists...2 blocked shots.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Dallas...8...0...4...2...Total=14

Milwa...0...7...2...2...Total=11

TOPS IN POINTS PREVENTED

1. Biggus Dickus, Dallas...8

2. Ehhy Table, Milwaukee.5

3. Pete Marzano, Dallas....4

MBA Standings … Season 57

EAST DIVISION

DALLAS…………………5-0

CHARLESTON……….3-2

PHILADELPHIA………2-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..2-3

MILWAUKEE………..2-3

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….3-1

SEATTLE………….3-1

SACRAMENTO… 1-3

GILLETTE…………1-3

SAN JOSE…………0-4

NEXT UP: Sacramento at Seattle in a rematch of this season’s lone buzzer-beater game, won on a medium shot at the horn by Seattle’s Eric A. Crocidale. Seattle is the favorite in this one, fighting for first in the West. But Sacramento’s last two games, the aforementioned close loss to Seattle and victory over Gillette, give them a semblance of hope.