The Dallas Mavericks took on the New York Knicks for the second and final time of the 2024-2025 season, getting walloped 128-113. Players were missing on both sides – nothing new for the Mavericks of late – as was defense in a game that was knotted at 68 by the end of the first half. The third quarter was a completely different story, as the Mavs mustered a measly 16 points, falling behind double-digits entering the fourth. Things got significantly worse from there, as the game was basically over before we hit the seven-minute mark of the final frame. The bright side for the Mavericks tonight was Naji Marshall, who continues to step up in a big way, taking on a primary role on the injury-depleted roster. Let’s get to the grades!
Spencer Dinwiddie: B-
13 Points / 4 Rebounds / 7 Assists / 0 Steals / 2 Blocks (35 Minutes)
Dinwiddie had been hot for a nice little stretch coming into this game, but tonight was the bad side of his offensive showings. He was not hitting shots, but did have a nice assist total and a couple of blocks to boot. That was unfortunately offset by too many turnovers (4), but at least he can say he generally offset the bad with some good unlike some of the others tonight.
Klay Thompson: C-
6 Points / 3 Rebounds / 1 Assist / 0 Steals / 0 Blocks (22 Minutes)
There isn’t a whole lot to write home about for Thompson. He just plainly had a strange game. Poor shooting and not much else that could pass as positive. This was pretty close to as bad as we’ll likely see him play.
Kessler Edwards: D
0 Points / 4 Rebounds / 0 Assists / 0 Steals / 0 Blocks (19 Minutes)
In what was Edwards’ last game on his two-way contract, he put up a bit of a stinker. He didn’t even attempt a shot across the first three quarters and grabbed only three boards in the same span. By the fourth quarter, he was spectating more than playing.
Naji Marshall: A+
38 Points / 7 Rebounds / 1 Assist / 1 Steal / 0 Blocks (38 Minutes)
Naji was more super-human than human in this one. He cooled off a bit in the second half, but then again, the Mavs in general could barely get a shot up. Naji broke the 30-point mark before the third quarter was through and showed off his usual wizardry when it comes to herky-jerky moves and soft-touch push shots.
Kai Jones: C+
9 Points / 8 Rebounds / 2 Assists / 1 Steal / 1 Block (24 Minutes)
Jones is proving to be something of a diamond in the rough. While he may not be making any All-NBA Teams, he’s been a much needed big body that has played well for the Mavericks. Tonight wasn’t his best outing, but a solid near double-double contributed to a fun first half before the Knicks blew the Mavs out of New York.
Max Christie: C-
6 Points / 1 Rebound / 2 Assists / 1 Steal / 0 Blocks (31 Minutes)
I miss the Christie we had in the first two weeks following the trade. Having more turnovers than points is a dubious stat that no player would ever wish to aspire to. He fortunately remedied that abysmal stat in the waning garbage time minutes, but lingering with more turnovers than points for the vast majority of the game is a bad look.
Dwight Powell: C
4 Points / 3 Rebounds / 3 Assists / 2 Steals / 0 Blocks (21 Minutes)
Powell continues the trend of players who I would have graded higher, if not for one particularly ugly stat. In Powell’s case, having the same number of fouls as points saddled him up next to Christie when it comes to puzzling stats that no one would ever wish for.
Brandon Williams: B+
22 Points / 1 Rebound / 3 Assists / 2 Steals / 0 Blocks (28 Minutes)
Can we get this guy locked down for next year? Mavericka guard depth is such that the very word “depth” is becoming a misnomer. Williams continues to remind us of his rookie year in Portland, and we could certainly do worse than a guy who plays intelligently and shoots at a high clip. Like many of the other Mavs, his turnover total (3) was too high and dings his grade on an otherwise solid night. On the surface, you could fault him for a low assist total, but considering the Mavs could barely get shots up in the second half, he gets some benefit of the doubt.
Jaden Hardy: B+
15 Points / 2 Rebounds / 0 Assists / 2 Steals / 0 Blocks (23 Minutes)
Hardy looked pretty good, shooting a blazing 7-for-9 from the floor. When he’s playing primarily as a shooting guard, things usually go much better than when he’s running the point. If he is utilized in this way with higher frequency, we may just see better and more consistent production out of him.