Minus Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks face first challenge vs. Mavs

Milwaukee guard Ryan Rollins has called for the Bucks to adopt a "next-man-up mentality" as they prepare for an extended spell without star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, starting with Sunday against the visiting Dallas Mavericks.

Antetokounmpo expects to miss four to six weeks after injuring his right calf in Milwaukee's 102-100 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday.

The long-term absence of Antetokounmpo -- the Bucks' nine-time All-Star, two-time NBA MVP and 2021 champion -- is a tough pill to swallow, particularly given the fact Milwaukee has lost its past two games and six of its past eight.

But Rollins, who scored 21 points against Denver, is hoping this adversity will bring out a lift in Antetokounmpo's regular supporting cast.

"It's tough," Rollins said. "Especially (with) us in the position we're in right now, for sure, losing our best player. It's just (a) next-man-up mentality. We've got to come out there, compete every night and play the right way. If we can do that, I think we have a good chance of winning still, for sure."

Antetokounmpo sustained the injury in the first quarter against the Nuggets, before exiting the game, then briefly returning and playing a total of 32 minutes, finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists -- game-high totals in each category.

Despite playing most of the match, Antetokounmpo was not optimistic about his prospects when interviewed afterward.

"After the MRI, they tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf on my soleus or something," Antetokounmpo said. "... This is from my experience being around the NBA.

"After that, I'm going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be the end of February, beginning of March. Hopefully, the team plays (well enough) that we can at least make the play-in or the playoffs. Just take it day by day, get better."

AJ Green (illness) is listed as questionable to face Dallas, while fellow guard Gary Trent Jr. (illness) is probable.

Mavericks guard Max Christie appears to have shrugged off a scare of his own after rolling an ankle in his team's 116-110 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, ending Dallas' season-best four-game win streak.

After leading the Lakers 87-79 after three quarters, the Mavs were swamped 37-23 in the fourth.

"I just rolled my ankle," Christie said of his temporary exit from the contest against his former team. "I got it re-taped and finished the game. It's not serious."

Christie scored 24 points, including four 3-pointers. He is in some of the best perimeter shooting form of his career, knocking down 20 of 38 from deep in his past four outings following a two-game absence with illness.

"Just being aggressive," Christie said of his simple but successful approach. "Being aggressive to score, being aggressive to get to my shot. ... If I'm aggressive, it can lead to other teammates in my gravity as well. Guys (opponents) are going to help off of me and give teammates driving lanes. Just continuing to be aggressive and continuing to try to stay consistent."

Dallas coach Jason Kidd was left to lament a poor fourth quarter at both ends, which denied his side a fifth successive victory.

"Defensively, we couldn't get stops," he said. "And offensively, down the stretch, we were 1-for-9. Had some good looks, and also had some turnovers, which led to them being able to capitalize."

The Bucks have won their past seven meetings with the Mavericks, whose against the Bucks was on April 3, 2022 in Milwaukee.