DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks leaned on their depth to secure a 129-114 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center, their fifth straight victory in the series and a franchise record for points against New York.
Despite missing Luka Dončić (right wrist sprain), Daniel Gafford (illness), Klay Thompson (left plantar fascia), and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery), Dallas improved to 11-8 and 4-1 without Dončić. Six players scored in double figures, while the defense limited the Knicks to 38 first-half points, their lowest total of the season.
“Without Luka right now, we’re finding ways to win,” Mavericks 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.”
Read the full game story here.
Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 23 points and 6 assists, setting the tone early. “We came out with a great mentality, attacked them first,” Irving said. “We matched [their physicality] and sometimes overpowered them. That’s what it takes to be great in this league—you’ve got to bring it.” Irving was the on-court interview with ESPN, which can be viewed below, courtesy of the Mavs.
The Mavericks held the Knicks to 15 points in the first quarter, their lowest-scoring opening frame this season. “Talking is big for us,” said P.J. Washington, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds. “Especially with guys like Lively protecting the rim, we focused on rebounding, limiting them to one shot, and getting out in transition.”
Naji Marshall scored 24 points, marking his fourth consecutive 20-point game, while leading a scoring night that included six double-figure scorers and four players with 20 or more. “It feels easy out there because so much attention is on Kyrie, P.J., and Big Dereck Lively II,” Marshall said.
Quentin Grimes added 21 points against his former team and noted the impact of a recent team meeting. “Since then, everybody’s been really locked in on what they should be doing defensively,” Grimes said.
The Mavericks next face the Utah Jazz on Saturday after a Thanksgiving break. Kidd said Dončić is “trending in the right direction” and nearing a return.
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