The Dallas Mavericks (11-8) overcame a stellar performance by Jalen Brunson, who scored 37 points, to defeat the New York Knicks (10-8) 129-114 on Wednesday night. The Mavericks have now improved to 4-1 without Luka Doncic this season.
Brunson tied his season-high for points in his second game against his former team. However, the Knicks couldn’t keep up with the Mavericks’ offensive firepower. Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 23 points, while Naji Marshall added 24, and Spencer Dinwiddie contributed 21 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns had a solid performance for New York, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Despite his effort, the Knicks struggled with shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, where they made only seven of 29 attempts.
OG Anunoby was limited to just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting, a stark contrast to his career-high 40 points two nights ago.
The Mavericks’ offense was clicking from start to finish. Dallas shot an impressive 56.5% from the field, including 17 three-pointers. The team was also efficient at the free-throw line, converting 16 of 21 attempts.
Despite missing several key players, including Doncic, Klay Thompson (plantar fascia), and Daniel Gafford (illness), the Mavericks held a commanding lead throughout the game.
The Knicks’ struggles were compounded by a lackluster start. They scored just 15 points in the first quarter, marking their lowest-scoring period of the season. Brunson’s 37-point effort kept New York in the game, but the Knicks couldn’t make up for their slow start, ultimately falling short.
The Mavericks were without Doncic for the fourth consecutive game due to a sprained right wrist. Still, they found enough production across the board, with P.J. Washington posting 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Mavericks’ depth was on full display, as all five starters scored in double figures.
