Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd credited Max Christie and team chemistry for Monday night’s 114-97 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. “I thought the group was really good this evening. The pace set the tone for us. Make or miss, we were playing fast, and Christie came out really, really good for us behind the arc but also defensively,” Kidd said.
Kidd highlighted the Mavericks’ offensive flow and ball movement. “This group is getting to play together for a little bit. Everyone’s touching the ball. There’s no one complaining about shots. Guys are just playing basketball and playing for each other,” he explained.
Christie delivered a season-high 26 points, hitting eight three-pointers, just shy of the team record. Kidd said, “We weren’t playing for records. We’re playing to win. If the game was going to present itself for him to break it, maybe, but it’s about doing the right thing and giving those other guys opportunities at the end.”
Rookie Cooper Flagg added 18 points in his first MSG appearance, sparking a decisive second-quarter run. “I thought Cooper was good. His energy was good. It looked like he hadn’t been out for his time. Maybe the only rust was his free throws. Besides that, he was Cooper Flagg tonight,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks’ defensive strategy also earned praise from Kidd. “We knew it was going to be a fight on the glass. The group did an incredible job boxing out, giving them one shot and turning it into opportunities on the other end,” he said.
On slowing down Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, Kidd noted, “We tried to give them different looks. We got lucky tonight. They missed shots they normally make. DP and Moussa did a really good job on KAT. We also went small on him and started Naji.”
Kidd emphasized the importance of pace and aggressiveness in the win. “It was just the pace we were playing at. Cooper getting downhill. Naji, Ryan, B-Will attacking. Christie was catch and shoot or off the dribble. He was very confident tonight,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks controlled the glass 53-49 and shot 47% from three, consistently punishing late rotations. Kidd added, “We were small, but we rebounded and capitalized on the other end. Activity on defense, deflections, steals—it all contributed to the win.”
Dallas improves to 18-26 and will host Golden State on Thursday, while New York falls to 25-18 and faces Brooklyn on Wednesday. Kidd concluded, “It’s about continuity. Understanding roles, playing for each other, and keeping that energy will help us continue to win.”
