The Dallas Mavericks (35-38) couldn’t overcome the New York Knicks (45-26) Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, falling 128-113. Tonight’s loss comes off a win in Brooklyn last night that featured Anthony Davis’ return after missing 18 games.
Naji Marshall led Dallas with 38 points, a career-high. Brandon Williams added 22 points off the bench. OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 35 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart each finished with triple-doubles.
Davis and PJ Washington missed tonight’s matchup. Davis got the night off as he eases back into play from his adductor strain, while Washington sprained his ankle in last night's win over the Nets. Dante Exum (hand fracture), Daniel Gafford (knee sprain), Kyrie Irving (ACL tear), Dereck Lively (ankle stress fracture), Caleb Martin (hip strain), and Olivier-Maxence Prosper (wrist surgery) were also out for the Mavericks. Jalen Brunson and Mitchell Robinson were out for the Knicks.
The Mavericks traded blows with the Knicks throughout the first quarter, finishing down 37-35. Dallas got off to a slow start as Towns got it going early for New York, taking advantage of his size. Dallas big man Kai Jones kept his production going in the opening quarter, having a couple of baskets from inside go down and even hitting a three-pointer! But Marshall led the way in this period, getting off to a hot 6-of-7 start from the field for 12 points. Brandon Williams added nine off the bench.
But Dallas could never get momentum to swing their way to begin the second quarter until a couple of Marshall’s signature floaters cut the Knicks’ lead to one. Naji was on a heater, going on a run of his own that soon after put the Mavericks in the lead 57-55. New York had a couple of bad turnovers to end the half, clearly missing Brunson, who sprained his ankle a couple of weeks ago. The two teams went bucket-for-bucket as the Mavericks walked into the intermission tied 68-68. Marshall finished this period with 28 points, which has to be a record for first-half points scored for him.
New York took control in the third quarter, and Dallas couldn’t get any kind of offense rolling, scoring 16 points in the period to the Knicks’ 30 that saw them looking at a 98-84 deficit entering the fourth. The Mavericks couldn’t stop Anunoby in this quarter, a theme for most of the game.
He and Towns took over, and the Mavericks just didn’t have the juice outside of Marshall tonight to keep pace after last night’s win, ultimately falling 128-113, splitting the series with the Knicks 1-1.
Here are some takeaways from tonight’s loss:
Naji Marshall is fun
Marshall finished tonight’s game with 38 points and seven rebounds. Marshall has had a great stretch of play through all of the injuries Dallas has faced, lately averaging 21 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. He’s been great on both ends of the floor, propelling Dallas with his energy and tenacity.
As a fan, it's hard not to love the heart he brings to the floor every night. Since returning from illness earlier in the season, he has been a consistent for Dallas during a time of inconsistency. A player like him can take you far in the postseason, which would have been an interesting watch if the Mavericks were completely healthy.
Dallas has a tough decision to make with the two-way guys
The Mavericks have to decide which players they will sign to standard deals, making them eligible for postseason play. Dallas can convert one of Kai Jones, Brandon Williams, or Kessler Edwards to a standard deal on April 10, or they can convert two of the three guys if they wait and sign them on April 12. They have all made a strong case for their deals to be converted, stepping up in big ways for the Mavericks as injuries derailed their season.
If I were to be the decision maker on this matter, I would lean towards waiting until the April 12 date and signing Williams and Jones. Williams is a pretty easy answer. The Mavericks have minimal guards available right now, and he has been a nice spark for Dallas, highlighting his impressive scoring abilities for a 6’1 scoring guard.
Jones has also made a strong case for earning a standard contract, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds through his first five games. He operates comfortably in the paint, utilizing his athleticism and leap to score over guys. He played well next to Davis last night, which is why I give him the nod alongside Williams. If Dallas makes it to the eight-seed, Jones would be nice insurance in case Gafford and Lively aren’t back by then.
No matter who they decide to sign, it is undeniable that Dallas has had an eye for two-way guys that can contribute, and it has been fun to watch these guys work to make a name for themselves.
The Mavericks are back in action Thursday evening when they travel to Orlando to take on the Magic at 6 p.m. CT.