Mavericks 103, Knicks 95: Scenes from a sad state of affairs

The Mavericks average the fewest points per game in the league, and shoot the fourth-worst percentage from the field. So of course they ominously squeezed 30 quick points into the first quarter and hammered out 73 more despite only getting six fast break points. The Knicks were able to keep pace even though Kristaps Porzingis was playing some of the worst basketball of his young NBA career. Back and forth they went and Carmelo Anthony was blazing Hip Hop and R&B all over Dallas. Quick shakes and pull ups, slick passing on the move. He was electrifying. He and Courtney Lee almost single-handedly kept the Knicks in the game. New York just had no cohesion and came up empty.

Melo and Lee were really the only players that had consistent nights. Melo faltered down the stretch but how many miracle soups can you possibly expect him to pull out of this broken cauldron?

For Dallas, Seth Curry decided to try matching Anthony’s effort, flicking home 12 first quarter points en route to 20 on the night. He even casually banked home a triple after a whistle with a man in his face. He was smiling the whole time.

New York’s defense was downright awful all night. Senseless switches generated gigantic mismatches. The Mavericks just went to work punishing whatever the defense served up. The Mavs had no problem getting Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings to switch onto Dirk Nowitzki and Harrison Barnes at the high post. Once they got the switch the Mav bigs went to work and the Knick littles were no match.

The game felt over long before the buzzer sounded. It just seemed like the Mavericks could kick into gear if they needed to and the Knicks just weren’t interested. Zach Diluzio will have an in depth wrap up for you. Until then, try to be gentle.