‘An X-Factor Out There’: Darin Green Jr.’s 21 Points Power Dallas Mavericks Past New York Knicks 110-88 To Close Summer League

LAS VEGAS — The Dallas Mavericks rolled the New York Knicks 110-88 on Friday at the Pavilion to close their 2026 NBA Summer League schedule behind a blistering three-point shooting performance.

Dallas finished the night with a 46% three-point percentage on 18-for-39 from behind the arc.

Mavericks Summer League coach Joe Boylan said the volume from deep wasn’t a specific target going in.

“Not really. We always want to put pressure on the paint first to collapse the defense. If the defense collapses, we want to make the right read and find the guys on the perimeter,” Boylan said. “Playing John and Darin, guys who are very good three-point shooters, our players did a great job finding them. We also wanted to set more off-ball screens because they were switching basically one through four. I think it was really playing with pace and being unselfish that generated those looks.”

Darin Green Jr. Fuels The Mavericks

Darin Green Jr.’s flurry of triples in the third quarter helped the Mavericks pull away and Dallas never looked back. Tied at halftime, the game was a back-and-forth affair through the first six minutes of the period before Green took over.

Down 58-56, Green received a pass on the left wing and fired up a three that gave the Mavericks a one-point lead with 3:47 in the third. After a Tyler Smith free throw, New York turned the ball over and Green took advantage. This time, Green hit a pull-up triple from the right wing.

After those two dropped, Dallas knew to find the hot hand. Pushing after a Knicks miss, Lucas Dufeal hit Green in the shooting pocket and the result was another made three. On the very next offensive possession, Green got free in the left corner, where he drilled his fourth three-pointer of the quarter for a 70-58 lead.

Green said a slow start to the game only sharpened his focus once his shot began to fall.

“Yeah. As a shooter, you’ve got to have a short memory,” Green said. “I think I was 1-for-6 or something in the first half, but my teammates and coaches encouraged me to keep shooting. That’s all I could ask for as a shooter. That helped build my confidence.”

Boylan pointed to the added defensive workload Green carried as what stood out most about the outburst.

“So impressive. The last three games, Darin Green has been completely an X-factor out there,” Boylan said. “His shot-making has been huge, but also we had to play him on the ball. He had to face pressure. He’s a guy who’s probably been deployed more coming off screens just as a shooter. Today he had to handle a lot of full-court pressure, get us organized, and compete defensively. I thought his overall game was really impressive tonight.”

In 24 minutes of action, Green recorded 21 points and 4 assists on 6-of-12 shooting from long range.

From Green’s run on, the Mavericks were hard to stop. They closed on a 6-2 run, which gave Dallas a 76-60 lead heading into the final quarter. The Mavericks kept their foot on the gas, with Jorge Diaz Graham hitting Dufeal for an alley-oop slam on the first play of the fourth.

The game was a formality from there, Dallas maintaining a double-digit lead through the rest of the contest.

Dufeal was a bright spot for the Mavericks. In his first Summer League action, he played 15 minutes with infectious energy. Flying around the court, Dufeal finished with 6 points on 3-for-4 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks, a steal and a mind-boggling +29 in the game.

Smith was another pleasant surprise for Dallas. Brushing off two games’ worth of rust where he didn’t see the floor for Dallas, Smith matched Green’s game-high point total of 21.

Jorge said Smith’s scoring burst was no surprise given his talent.

“He’s just so talented. Once he gets going, it’s really hard to stop him,” Jorge said. “It’s about him staying focused and playing his game. You saw tonight how talented he is. He can play anywhere.”

A Back-And-Forth First Half

Pacôme Dadiet drove New York’s offense in the opening quarter. He opened scoring with a drive and finish through contact, earning him a trip to the free-throw line, where Dadiet capitalized on the three-point play.

Less than two minutes later, Knicks big man Liam Robbins blocked a Diaz Graham dunk attempt and none other than Dadiet snagged the rebound. He pushed in transition, getting to the rim for another and-one opportunity.

This time, Dadiet missed the free throw. In no time, he grabbed his own offensive rebound and scored again through contact. The whistle rang and Dadiet nailed his free throw for a 12-5 lead with 5:56 in the first.

After the Mavericks committed consecutive turnovers later in the quarter, Dallas rookie Vsevolod Ishchenko attempted to regain the momentum himself. After collecting a rebound, Ishchenko ran the break and, using a slick behind-the-back dribble, got an open lane for a one-handed slam in the vicinity of two New Yorkers.

Ischenko would finish the night with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 7 assists, showing the flashes that convinced the Mavericks to take a second-round swing on him.

Still, New York took a 23-16 lead into the second quarter.

By the 3:56 mark of the second, Dallas had barely chipped into the deficit, trailing 37-31. Suddenly, the Mavericks trimmed the lead in half as Guillermo Diaz Graham drilled a three.

Ischenko blocked a Dadiet shot on the next play, where Jorge was there to collect the rebound. The ball was swung to John Poulakidas, who rewarded Jorge with a pass that led to a layup.

Guillermo struck again, this time stealing the ball from Dadiet. Back on offense, Poulakidas was now the beneficiary of a pass. Ishchenko found him on the right wing, where his three-pointer was good for a 39-37 lead. Until Green’s barrage in the third, the contest remained close.

Wrapping Up Summer League

Poulakidas has been a leader on the court for Dallas this Summer League. Despite appearing in just 13 games as a rookie last year, he’s played with consistency and poise while being in the right spots.

Against the Knicks, Poulakidas hit 5 three-pointers en route to 18 points.

Jorge also had a standout performance versus New York, showing why he was taken with the first pick in the 2026 G League International Draft. Making an impact all across the floor, he finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.

“Nothing special, honestly. Just playing hard, not quitting on plays, getting rebounds, shooting my shot, and having fun,” Jorge said of his performance.

Dadiet led the Knicks with 19 points and 5 rebounds, while Robbins tallied 14 in the loss.

New York finishes its Summer League with a 1-4 record just over a month after securing its first NBA title in 53 years.

The Mavericks were without 2026 first-rounders Morez Johnson Jr. and Sergio De Larrea, as well as second-year guard Ryan Nembhard. Still, Dallas was able to best the Knicks and close out Summer League with a 3-2 record.

Boylan said the win reflected the identity the Mavericks tried to build across their five Summer League games.

“I think it’s a testament to the identity we were trying to establish. We wanted to be a connected group. We wanted to cheer for our teammates and stay ready. Whoever was out there, we wanted to be the hardest-playing and best-passing team,” Boylan said. “Another game with over 25 assists. Another game holding the opponent under 40% shooting. I was really proud that the guys who hadn’t played a lot came out and played Mavericks basketball.”

Looking back on the full Summer League slate, Boylan said he got what he wanted out of it.

“I think so. We saw great things from Morez. Larry obviously became a phenomenon with the lob passes. But from one through 15, every guy on the roster showed something and contributed,” Boylan said. “That’s what I’m most proud of. We really played to the identity we asked them to play with. We stayed connected, cheered for each other, and had a lot of fun.”