Dirk-less Mavs win on Ellis' buzzer-beater, 107-105

MILWAUKEE -- Monta Ellis scored eight points in the final 1:34, including a fadeaway jump shot at the buzzer, to lift the Mavs over the Bucks on the second night of a back-to-back.

Tyson Chandler put up 18 points and 20 rebounds in the performance. Ellis finished with 23 points.

Dirk Nowitzki missed Wednesday's game after experiencing tightness in his back and playing 42 minutes during Tuesday's double-overtime win in Chicago. Al-Farouq Aminu stared in Nowitzki's place, scoring 14 points.

Every Maverick starter scored in double figures in the team's fifth straight win.

Brandon Knight scored 25 points and Khris Middleton added 21 for the Bucks in the third straight loss.

Dallas' Jameer Nelson made a wide-open 3-pointer to cut the Bucks' lead to one with just under two minutes left. After a travel by Jabari Parker, Ellis hit a layup on the other end to give Dallas a 100-99 lead with 1:34 left.

In a back-and-forth ending, Ellis made a jumper that put the Mavs ahead with 32.9 seconds left, and Milwaukee turned the ball over on an offensive foul by Knight. Richard Jefferson hit one of two free throws for a 105-103 lead.

But Knight hit a jumper over Chandler to tie it with 8.9 seconds left. That set up Ellis, who made a shot falling away to his left with O.J. Mayo guarding him.

TIP-INS

Mavericks: Carlisle said the team is being cautious to make sure Nowitzki's back injury doesn't linger or get worse. "We've got to get that thing knocked out of there and get him ready for whatever the next game is," Carlisle said. ... Carlisle, who coached Bucks coach Jason Kidd on the Mavericks' 2011 championship team, said Kidd was among "the most competitive guys in the history of the game." ... A technical foul was called on the Mavs' bench early in the third quarter.

Bucks: Forward Ersan Ilyasova has been ruled out at last four games after an elbow to the face left him with a nasal fracture and concussion-like symptoms in Tuesday night's loss at Cleveland. The team said Ilyasova also showed symptoms of a mild concussion. ... Zaza Pachulia was called for a technical late in the second quarter.

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