Dallas Mavericks Down New York Knicks 114-97 in NYC
The Dallas Mavericks traveled to the Big Apple for a one-game road tilt against the New York Knicks on Monday, also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Mavericks defeated the Knicks 114-97 at Madison Square Garden. Dallas improved to 18-26 and a three-game winning streak, while New York fell to 25-18.
In case you missed it, New York dropped a 106-99 decision to the Phoenix Suns at MSG on Sunday. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and two assists. Devin Booker led the Suns with 27 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Dallas swept the Utah Jazz in both games of the back-to-back set at the AAC on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Klay Thompson led the Mavs with 23 points and three assists. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 29 points, one rebound, and six assists.
Thompson, 35, not only led the Mavs but also earned the Mavs’ Winning Play of the Game honors on Saturday. The 35-year-old finished Saturday’s game with six three-pointers, 17,000 career points, and a win. Max Christie and Brandon Williams also finished with 20+ points.
On Monday, Dallas announced the raising of Mark Aguirre’s No. 24 jersey to the rafters of the AAC next week. Aguirre, 66, is a former forward who began his NBA career with the Mavs from 1981 to 1989 before playing for the Detroit Pistons from 1989 to 1993 and finishing his career with the Los Angeles Clippers after the 1993-94 season.
New York Knicks vs. Dallas Mavericks Starters
New York’s starting lineup featured Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns. New York’s injury report was empty, a good sign as Brunson faced Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks, also known as Brunson’s former team from 2018 to 2022.
Dallas’ starting lineup featured Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Cooper Flagg, Caleb Martin, and Dwight Powell. Dallas ruled out Dante Exum (knee), Kyrie Irving (knee), Dereck Lively II (foot), Anthony Davis (finger), PJ Washington (personal), D’Angelo Russell (illness), and Daniel Gafford (ankle).
Knicks vs. Mavericks Recap
Monday’s game displayed a non-conference game, but an entertaining matchup, nonetheless. Dallas came in hot with a three-game winning streak, while the Knicks entered the Garden with a three-game losing skid.
Cooper Flagg wasted no time getting on the board with an early perfect bucket. The Mavs built a 13-4 lead by the first timeout. Max Christie’s three-pointer increased his first-quarter total to nine points. The Knicks cut the lead. Mitchell Robinson put away a dime from Jalen Brunson. Dallas took a 31-22 lead to end the first.
Both teams played an energetic second quarter. Klay Thompson nailed a three-pointer. The Mavs outscored the Knicks 18-9, with Flagg leading the way, early on. The officials upgraded Karl-Anthony Towns’ offensive foul to a flagrant for kicking Dwight Powell in the groin while taking a three-pointer, giving Dallas two free throws. Dallas took a 75-47 lead into halftime.
Max Christie led all Mavs players with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from downtown. Christie’s six three-pointers in the first half set a career-high three-point makes in a game. Previously, Christie had five three-pointers three times.
Converting 99-of-217 from deep this season, Christie is currently shooting 46% from three-point range, per Mavs PR.
The Knicks and Larry Johnson honored Sheila Duke, CEO of Roads to Success, with the Sweetwater Clifton Award. The Queens Borough President’s Office participated in the special recognition on Monday.
Max Christie and Naji Marshall maintained their shine in the third quarter. Christie’s three-pointers, along with Marshall’s floaters, stood out. The Knicks picked up the pace, finding some groove in the process, but appeared to be quiet quitters against a depleted Mavs squad. Dallas took a 94-71 lead through three quarters.
Both teams saw a slow start to the fourth quarter but picked up the pace. The Mavs reached the 100-point plateau past the midway mark. Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut at the Garden was one to remember, finishing with 18 points. The Knicks went on a 10-2 run late in the game but weren’t nearly enough. Dallas won 114-97 in regulation.
What Happens Moving Forward
The Mavericks return home to open a two-game homestand against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. Central. The Mavs can beat the Warriors by limiting Stephen Curry’s shooting, adjusting the defense to account for the Warriors’ strengths, and creating turnovers to disrupt the Warriors’ offensive rhythm.
The Knicks conclude the three-game homestand against their crosstown rival, the Brooklyn Nets, on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The Knicks can beat the Nets by utilizing home court advantage, capitalizing on recent success, and fine-tuning offense and defense to adapt to the Nets’ strengths and weaknesses.
