“We Just Got Off to a Slow Start”: Naji Marshall’s 38 Points Not Enough as Mavericks Fall to Knicks

Naji Marshall delivered the best game of his NBA career, but the New York Knicks (45-26) overwhelmed a depleted Dallas Mavericks (35-38) squad with a dominant second half en route to a 128-113 victory Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Marshall scored a career-high 38 points on 17-of-25 shooting, including 28 in the first half alone, continuing an impressive stretch where he’s averaged 23.5 points and 7.8 rebounds over his last 12 games. But even his explosive performance couldn’t offset a second-half collapse by Dallas, which was outscored 60-45 after intermission.

The Mavericks have dropped 10 of their last 13 games and were again hit hard by injuries. They dressed only nine players and were without Anthony Davis (left adductor strain), P.J. Washington (left ankle sprain), Kyrie Irving (torn left ACL), Daniel Gafford (right knee sprain), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist sprain), Dante Exum (left hand fracture), and Caleb Martin (right hip strain).

Despite that, Dallas kept pace through the first half, shooting 65.1% from the field and matching New York at 68 apiece going into the break. But things quickly unraveled in the third quarter.

The Knicks opened the second half on a 17-5 run and never looked back. The Mavericks shot just 4 of 18 in the quarter, while New York converted 11 of 21 attempts to build a 14-point cushion. Dallas never recovered, with the deficit swelling to 26 in the fourth.

“We just got off to a slow start there in that third quarter and that’s where it got away from us,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “The guys fought on a back-to-back. It’s tied at halftime, and it’s anybody’s game. Give the Knicks credit. They took control of it.”

Karl-Anthony Towns posted 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists for his first triple-double since January 2022. Josh Hart added 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. It marked the first time in Knicks history that two players recorded a triple-double in the same game.

“They got into transition and got layups and early threes,” Kidd said. “That puts a lot of pressure on our offense, and we just couldn’t keep that pace up tonight.”

OG Anunoby also poured in 35 points for New York, helping the Knicks shoot 59.6% from the field with 40 assists on 59 made field goals.

Even with the loss, Marshall’s rise remains one of the brightest developments for Dallas. Signed last summer to a three-year, $27 million deal, the 26-year-old has emerged as a consistent contributor and has developed an incredibly effective go-to floater.

“He’s got a monstrous floater,” Spencer Dinwiddie said. “He can kind of get in that lane and get his floater off against anybody… He’s been absolutely eviscerating [centers]. It’s been dope to see his game grow.”

For his part, Marshall credited his rhythm and confidence.

“My floater is just part of my game,” he said. “I feel good doing it. I get to my spot rising. I just like the change of it. I’ve been staying in the gym and just being aggressive, getting what the defense gives me.”

Brandon Williams also impressed off the bench with 22 points in 28 minutes on 7-of-11 shooting. Jaden Hardy chipped in 15 points, hitting 7 of 9 shots. The Mavericks’ bench outscored the Knicks’ second unit 47-28.

“(Williams) was good,” Kidd said. “Attacking, getting in the paint, and being able to finish and make plays for his teammates. With his pace, being able to get downhill, he was really good tonight in that first half.”

Despite shooting 53.8% from the field overall, Dallas couldn’t survive the third-quarter drought or New York’s multi-faceted attack. Dinwiddie, who added 13 points and seven assists, acknowledged the fatigue and shorthanded nature of the team but stopped short of excuses.

“I think the Knicks are a good team and I think OG played well, obviously,” Dinwiddie said. “We struggled guarding KAT as well. And probably a little fatigue — just being honest, short-handed, back-to-back. No excuses. We got to come out and fight. But I’ll call a spade a spade, too.”

“He’s one of the best out there,” Kidd said of Towns. “He can stretch the floor, he can put it on the floor, and then his passing.

“He was finding cutters tonight and that put us in a bad way where we’re trying to pay attention to him, but he’s finding his teammates tonight and that made the game easy for him.”

The same could be said about Hart, who was 6 of 9 from the floor.

“Hart is like the utility (player) for that team,” Dinwiddie said. “He does a little bit of everything. (He got) a bunch of rebounds and hustle plays – all that stuff as well as being a better passer than people give him credit for. So, not surprising.”

Marshall said the Knicks’ third-quarter surge was too much to overcome.

“Shout out to them. They’re a great team and they came out and put their foot down in the third quarter and kind of went on a run and it was hard to shake back from that,” Marshall said.

The Mavericks continue their road trip Thursday night when they visit the Orlando Magic. Dallas ends its four-game road trip on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls.