The Dallas Mavericks played their second of two games in New York City against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. The Mavericks’ race with the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns has been critical for the final two spots in the NBA’s Western Conference Play-In Tournament. The Mavericks fell to the Knicks 128-113 at Madison Square Garden. Dallas dropped to 35-38, while New York improved to 45-26.
Naji Marshall led the Mavericks with 38 points, seven rebounds, and one assist. Brandon Williams followed up with 22 points, one rebound, and three assists. Jaden Hardy added 15 points and two rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie had 13 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. Kai Jones scored nine points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Max Christie recorded six points, one rebound, and two assists. Klay Thompson tallied six points, three rebounds, and one assist.
Dallas Mavericks-New York Knicks Recap
The Dallas Mavericks ruled out Anthony Davis with a left adductor strain, Caleb Martin with a right hip strain, Daniel Gafford with a right knee sprain, Dante Exum with a left-hand fracture, Dereck Lively II with a right ankle stress fracture, Kyrie Irving with a torn ACL, PJ Washington Jr. with a left ankle sprain, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper with a right wrist sprain.
The New York Knicks ruled out Ariel Hukporti with a torn meniscus, Jalen Brunson with a right ankle sprain, and Miles McBride with a groin contusion. The Knicks’ starting lineup featured Cameron Payne, Josh Hurt, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges. The Mavericks’ starting lineup featured Spencer Dinwiddie, Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall, Kessler Edwards, and Kai Jones. Regardless of role, Marshall impacts the game.
The Knicks opened the first quarter with an early 2-0 lead, but the Mavericks got on the board and kept the game close. Naji Marshall had a sequence of buckets and 12 points in 11 minutes. The Knicks settled for a 37-35 lead at the end of the first quarter. Both teams shined in the second quarter. Klay Thompson finished at the rim, while Karl-Anthony Towns threw down a one-handed dunk. The Mavericks and Knicks were tied 68-68 at halftime.
The Knicks regained the lead in the third quarter. Josh Hart notched his ninth triple-double of the season, setting a new franchise record for the most triple-doubles in a single season and passing Walt Frazier for the most triple-doubles in a single season in franchise history. The Knicks led 98-84 after three quarters. The Mavericks failed to get ahead in the fourth quarter. The Knicks won 128-113 in regulation.
Mavericks-Knicks Highlights
The Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks game featured multiple highlights, such as the Mavericks’ inability to escape their Jalen Brunson mistake that started their demise, while reviving the Knicks. After Brunson’s departure, two other Mavericks joined the Knicks. The first is Casey Smith, a former longtime trainer for the Mavericks, and the second is Heather Mau, a former Mavericks’ training staff member.
For the Mavericks, Dwayne Wade shared a take. Wade, 43, said on the “Time Out with Dwyane Wade” podcast, “The Dallas Mavericks are in trouble. The Dallas Mavericks are in trouble, I think I’ve seen 15 bodies go down … When ‘The Why’ Network went live, we was talking about the Luka trade, but we was talking about AD going to Dallas, Kyrie Irving, we was talking about what that could be and this window is now, that window is [closed].”
And, for the Knicks, a new book detailing Jalen Brunson’s move to New York has been a starting point among the Knicks’ fans. Although centered on Luka Doncic, The Wonder Boy: Luka Doncic and the Curse of Greatness has a chapter centered on Brunson’s departure in the summer of 2022. Author Tim McMahon released part of the Brunson sections on Monday, writing Brunson was happy to be Doncic’s sidekick in Dallas.
Final Thoughts
Anthony Davis returned and helped the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Brooklyn Nets, 120-101, on Monday night. Davis finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block in 27 minutes. The Mavericks’ game against the Nets was the first of two games in New York City. Davis’ return marked his second game as a Dallas Maverick as his first was on February 8, 2025, when he suffered a left adductor strain.
Davis noted that he was always going to return and play this season. Despite straining his left adductor on February 8, Davis was determined to help the Mavericks make a strong push to grab a spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament. Davis’ stat line — and presence — paved the way for his teammates to get some open shots at the basket that they wouldn’t have gotten.
Davis reflected on Kyrie Irving’s injury. After Monday night’s game, Davis told Mavs.com, “It was devastating. Kyrie is a phenomenal basketball player, but even more, a phenomenal human. Anytime anyone goes down to an injury like that it always sucks.” Davis reportedly waited a bit before contacting Irving about the injury, as he wanted to give him the time to digest the circumstances surrounding his injury.
Seven Mavericks scored in double-digits in Monday night’s win: Naji Marshall (22), Spencer Dinwiddie (16), PJ Washington (16), Brandon Williams (15), Kai Jones (13), Anthony Davis (12), and Max Christie (10). Marshall posted his 14th 20-point effort of the season, Dinwiddie recorded his second double-double in his last three games, and Jones had his fourth double-digit game in four games.
The Mavericks will continue their four-game road trip against the Orlando Magic on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern. Dwight Howard was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, becoming the 13th member honored by the organization, on Monday night. Howard spent eight seasons in Orlando from 2004 to 2012, becoming one of the most decorated players in the team’s history.
