Mavericks Dominate Knicks Without Luka Dončić Behind Balanced Scoring and Stifling Defense

Dallas Mavericks dominate Knicks 129-114 with balanced scoring, record-setting offense, and stifling defense, extending their win streak over New York to five games.

Photo via Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks leaned on depth and balance to dismantle the New York Knicks 129-114 Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center. The win marked Dallas’ fifth straight victory over New York—their longest streak in the series since 2014-16—and set a franchise record for points scored against the Knicks.

Despite playing without Luka Dončić (right wrist sprain) for the fourth consecutive game, the Mavericks improved to 11-8 on the season and 4-1 when he doesn’t play. They used stifling defense and an offense that saw six players score in double figures—a trend in their recent performance to stay afloat without their best player. It occurred despite playing without Daniel Gafford (illness), Klay Thompson (left plantar fascia), and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery) being sidelined.

“Without Luka right now, we’re finding ways to win,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “And with Luka, we’ll find ways to win. It shows the character of this team and the depth we’ve built.”

Kyrie Irving set the tone for the Mavericks with 23 points and 6 assists, providing a steadying presence throughout the game. He’s been a driving force behind the team getting by without Dončić lately, averaging 25.3 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in those five games. With six double-figure scorers—including four with at least 20 points for the second consecutive game—the supporting cast has stepped up.

"We’re just unlocking each other’s skill sets and trying to do all the little things for each other to be successful,” Irving said. “Obviously, when you’ve got a 30-point scorer not in the lineup, you’ve got to do everything you can as a team to will yourself to these victories."