Mavs Lose To Knicks

The Knicks began the game on a 8-0 run and led 33-25 after one.  Dallas trailed by 10 (48-38) midway through the second quarter, but closed the period on a 14-8 run (capped by a Dennis Smith Jr. buzzer-beating 3-pointer) and pulled to within four (56-52) going into the half.  

The Knicks were also up 10 (73-63) halfway through the third quarter, but the Mavericks closed the period on an 8-2 run and again got to within four (75-71) going into the fourth.  Dallas trailed by 13 (90-77) with under 9 minutes remaining, but used a 15-2 rally to knot the score at 92 with 2:28 left.  

The Mavericks tied the game at 94 with 1:18 remaining (on a Harrison Barnes 16-foot jumper), but the Knicks scored the final six points of the game and won 100-96.




Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes registered a team-high 25 points (10-22 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 2-2 FTs), including 10 in the fourth quarter, to go along with a team-high-tying seven rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. He scored 20-plus points for the third time in his last four games (17th time this season). It was Barnes’ seventh game with at least 25 points this year. 

Mavericks center Salah Mejri recorded a season-high 11 points (4-5 FGs, 3-3 FTs) to go along with a team-high-tying seven rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. His previous high-scoring game this year was 10 points at Washington on 11/7.  

Six players scored 11-plus points for Dallas in the loss: Harrison Barnes (25), Wesley Matthews (14), Dennis Smith Jr. (11), Salah Mejri (11), J.J. Barea (11) and Devin Harris (11). The Mavericks produced at least six double-figure scorers for the fifth time in their last six games (15th time this season).  

Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis totaled a game-high 29 points (9-25 FGs, 3-5 3FGs, 8-8 FTs), including 11 in the first quarter, to go along with eight rebounds in 38 minutes. He scored 20-plus points for the 23rd time in his first 34 games of the season. Enes Kanter (13 points and a game-high 18 rebounds) and Kyle O’Quinn (15 points and 11 boards) both posted double- doubles for New York in the win. It was Kanter’s 16th double-double of the season and O’Quinn’s fourth.  

 

Derek Harper had his No. 12 jersey retired at halftime of tonight’s game. He joined Rolando Blackman (No. 22) and Brad Davis (No. 15) as the only Mavericks to have their jerseys hung in the rafters. Harper stands as the Mavericks’ all-time leader in assists (5,111) and steals (1,551). He also ranks third in franchise history in games played (872), third in starts (620), third in minutes (27,985), fourth in points (12,597), fourth in field goals made (4,899), fourth in free throws made (2,094) and fifth in 3-point field goals made (705).  

The attendance was 20,171. The Mavericks have now sold out 659 consecutive regular-season home games, which is an NBA-best sellout streak. The streak began on 12/15/01 and Dallas has sold out an additional 67 playoff games during that same stretch.