Game thread: New York Knicks @ Dallas Mavericks 8:30 11/9/2019 [Game #9]

rady

Administrator
Staff member

gt.png


NYK.gif
at.png
DAL.gif

(1-7) -- (5-2)

VenueTVTIME
Americsn Airlines CenterMSG8:30 PM EST



Probable starters:

away.png
i
i
i
i
i


home.png
i
i
i
i
i


Injury Report

New York KnicksDallas Mavericks
Elfrid Payton - Strained right hamstring (OUT)No injuries to be reported
Reggie Bullock - Cervical disc herniation (OUT)-
Kadeem Allen - Strained right foot (OUT)-
Dennis Smith - Personal reasons (OUT)-
Mitchell Robinson - Concussion-


Game Preview

On Jan. 31, the New York Knicks made a stunning trade, sending Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks. Their hope was that saving approximately $70 million in salary cap space gained by dealing Porzingis and shedding Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract (he was also part of the trade) would lead to some big results in free agency.

Instead, the Knicks struck out on a superstar class headlined by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, and now own the NBA's worst record heading into their visit to Porzingis and the Mavericks on Friday night.

The Knicks used the fourth pick in the 2015 draft on Porzingis, who was booed on draft night by some fans. In 186 games for New York, Porzingis averaged 17.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and two blocks while shooting 36.1 percent from 3-point range. He drew comparisons to recently retired Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki and was called a "unicorn" by Durant.

Porzingis last played for the Knicks on Feb. 6, 2018, when he tore the ACL in his left knee on a dunk in a game against Milwaukee. When he met with the front office in late January 2019, management believed Porzingis wanted a trade, so the club dealt with him Trey Burke, Courtney Lee and Hardaway for DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr and first-round picks in 2021 and 2023.

The Knicks aspired to use the cap space on a star but wound up signing several forwards, including Marcus Morris and Julius Randle, to join a young group that includes first-round pick RJ Barrett and last year's draft class of Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson.

So far, it has led to seven losses in eight games, matching New York's second-worst eight-game start in team history and worst since 2009-10, when the Knicks were saving cap space in an attempt to land LeBron James.

Meanwhile, Porzingis signed a five-year, maximum contract worth $158 million, and the Mavericks are off to a 5-2 start while pairing Porzingis with second-year guard Luka Doncic. Doncic is averaging 26.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 9.1 assists, while Porzingis is averaging 19 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

Porzingis enters Friday shooting (17-of-44) in his last three games and tied a season-low with 10 points Wednesday, but the Mavericks got 27 from Doncic and held on for a 107-106 victory over Orlando.

"I have to get the feel back. I have to get it back," Porzingis said. "The spots that I'm getting to get my shots are not maybe the usual spots that I was getting used to when I played in New York.

"I want to get a win. That's what I want to get. I want to keep winning. We're 5-2. I haven't played well once.

The Knicks head into Friday on a four-game losing streak since Bobby Portis led a pulsating comeback Oct. 28 against Chicago. After losing on a last-second shot by Jayson Tatum last Friday in Boston, the Knicks were blown out against Sacramento and Detroit.

On Wednesday, the Knicks lost Robinson to a possible concussion that could keep him out Friday. They also did not have Smith, who is out due to the death of his stepmother. In their latest loss, Randle scored 20 points, but the Knicks were outscored 58-43 after halftime.

"It's tough," Randle said. "You try to look at the long-term perspective of where we'll be at the end of the season, and are we taking the right steps to get there. I think we are, but in the short term, it's tough losing."

Dallas has won 27 of the last 35 meetings with the Knicks. Coincidentally Dallas recorded a 114-90 win in New York the night before the Porzingis deal, when Smith recorded a triple-double (13 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds).

(Field Level Media / cbssports.com)
 
Last edited:
There is such a degree of delusion to this franchise.

They just did a pregame package on Wayne Ellington, who seems like a nice enough guy, that made it look like he has been killing it this season knocking down shots. Dude is averaging 5 points per game on 30% shooting this season. I mean, just kill me, I can?t take anymore.
 
Sounds like this will be DSJ?s last missed game before he returns.

On a separate note, are we already tanking and holding out guys? How badly injured was Payton?
 
I hope Randle picks up KP over his shoulder runs into traffic with him. Not really. But yeah, that would be okay.
 

tiger0330

Legend
Frank guarding Doncic and hit a 3 for the Knicks first points. He's got a chance to solidify his starting PG spot with a good game tonight.
 

Broadway

All Star
Donchiss is INSANELY good...:shock2: I'm talking probably ending up being the greatest Mav ever and I absolutely love Dirk!
 

Kiyaman

Legend
36 - 28 Knicks .. end of 1st qtr.
Dotson & Trier are looking real good together.
Who will be more LAZY on defense? KP? or Randle?
 

tiger0330

Legend
36 - 28 Knicks .. end of 1st qtr.
Dotson & Trier are looking real good together.
Who will be more LAZY on defense? KP? or Randle?
Knicks not laying down to the Mavs. Plus 8 RBs, shooting 52% and an 8 pt lead after the first.

Will we pull out the W tonight? or have our usual second half collapse.
 

Broadway

All Star
Knicks are competing tonight, I don't see the Marcus Morris tough speak in action but I do see a focus on how we're playing
 

tiger0330

Legend
Holy crap, wtf happened to Nits. Looks like a completely different guy, gets a pass about 18 ft away, and takes it strong to the rim and tries to dunk it over KP. What impressed me was it looked like he was shot out of a cannon like Russ does it,
 
Top