In a high-scoring showdown, Kyrie Irving showcased his scoring prowess with a season-high 44 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a hard-fought 128-124 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday. Tim Hardaway Jr. complemented Irving’s performance by tying his season-high with 32 points, contributing significantly to the Mavericks’ success.
Despite missing star player Luka Doncic, sidelined with a right ankle sprain, Dallas dominated early, claiming a commanding 44-26 lead in the first quarter. The Mavericks’ offensive efficiency was on full display, shooting an impressive 69.6 percent from the field and connecting on 8 of 10 three-point attempts.
However, the Knicks mounted a resilient comeback, rallying from a 21-point third-quarter deficit. New York pulled within one point, 121-120, with just over a minute remaining, fueled by a 27-8 run. Donte DiVincenzo’s timely 3-pointer capped the impressive surge.
The Mavericks responded to the Knicks’ charge, securing the win at the free-throw line and with a critical three-pointer from Josh Green. Green matched his season high with 18 points, while Grant Williams added 11 for Dallas, which has now won four of its last five games.
For the Knicks, Julius Randle led the scoring with 32 points, and Jalen Brunson, facing his former team, contributed 30 points. DiVincenzo added 19 points, and OG Anunoby finished with 10. Isaiah Hartenstein’s dominance on the boards was evident with a game-high 15 rebounds.
Dallas maintained its offensive efficiency, connecting on 50 percent of its shots from the field and 41.5 percent from three-point range. The Knicks, meanwhile, struggled from beyond the arc, finishing 14 of 42 (33.3 percent) on three-point attempts.
This hard-fought victory for the Mavericks ended the Knicks’ five-game winning streak, marking their first loss since acquiring Anunoby in a trade from the Toronto Raptors on December 30. Despite the absence of Doncic, Irving’s standout performance and the collective effort of the Mavericks secured a crucial win against a determined Knicks team.
