Giannis, Lillard and Middleton are out as the Mavericks lead the Bucks 54-38 at halftime

The Milwaukee Bucks (1-2) wrap up their show tonight at Dallas (0-3), and the Mavericks took a 54-38 halftime lead behind 14 points from Kyrie Irving and 11 from Klay Thompson.

The Bucks led 22-21 after one quarter as Gary Trent Jr. and Anžejs Pasečņiks each scored six points for the Bucks. They each had 10 points at halftime.

Bucks head coach Doc Rivers decided that stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez would rest before the game. However, Khris Middleton was ruled out on Wednesday because he has yet to practice in the five-on-five system as he recovers from surgery on both ankles this offseason.

The Bucks open the regular season on October 23rd in Philadelphia.

Is Giannis playing?

No. Rivers initially wanted to increase Antetokounmpo's minutes in the preseason after resting the first game in Detroit, but after playing 20 against the Los Angeles Lakers and 23 against the Chicago Bulls' reserves, it's likely that Rivers will find his star against the Substitute players will be retained. the Mavericks backups.

Antetokounmpo was clearly frustrated by the heavy fouls from the less talented and smaller Bulls and picked up a technical foul and a Flagrant 1 in the final preseason game.

The Bucks also decided to keep Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis Jr. out of the game.

More: Bucks guard Damian Lillard looks back on a transitional year in Milwaukee and is looking forward to a big season

Bucks starter

• Guards: AJ Johnson, Gary Trent Jr.

• Forward: Taurus Prince, Tyler Smith

• Center: Liam Robbins

More: How Bucks guard AJ Green, a.k.a. “Dairy Bird,” stays grounded while trying to carve out a rotation spot

Is Luka playing?

No. Luka Dončić is dealing with a bruised left calf and has not played in the Mavericks' last three preseason games.

Along with Dončić, the Mavericks opted to hold off Maxi Kleber (left ankle sprain), Dante Exum (right wrist) and Kessler Edwards (left ankle sprain).

The team initially said Kyrie Irving would rest, but the veteran point guard decided to play.

What's the latest on Khris Middleton?

After Wednesday's scrimmage, Rivers said that Middleton did not need to practice to play in the season opener against the 76ers.

Bucks signed guard Justise Winslow to an Exhibit 10 contract

Milwaukee has tried to look at some veterans from its G League team, most recently 28-year-old defenseman Justise Winslow. The 6-foot-6-inch winger signed an Exhibit 10 contract and was released, allowing him to sign with the Wisconsin Herd early this season.

Winslow was the No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft out of Duke and played eight seasons in the NBA for Miami, Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland before spending all of last season in the G League.

He is a career 31.5 percent three-point shooter.

Winslow is the latest in a series of Exhibit 10 contracts the Bucks have given out to veterans such as Rice Lake's Henry Ellenson (who was also released Thursday to make way for the Herd), Terence Davis and Ibou Badji. The team also signed and waived rookie Philip Alston. He was a member of the Bucks' summer league team.

The Bucks also waived James Akinjo before going to Dallas.

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis and Lillard exit as Mavericks lead 54-38 over Bucks at halftime