Knicks’ hot streak comes to a halt in Dallas duel

In a showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, the New York Knicks succumbed to the Dallas Mavericks in a nail-biter, closing the game at 124-128. Despite the loss, it was a rollercoaster of emotions for Knicks faithful.

Julius Randle dropped an impressive 32 points, leading the charge for the Knicks. Jalen Brunson, with 30 points, tried to engineer a late-game comeback, contributing 12 crucial points in the fourth quarter.

Donte DiVincenzo‘s three-pointer with just over a minute left to play brought the Knicks within striking distance at 120-121 after trailing by 10 two minutes earlier and by 20 earlier in the fourth quarter. DiVincenzo finished the night with 19 points, shooting 7-13 from the field, including five from beyond the arc.

However, the Knicks found themselves unable to contain the Kyrie Irving onslaught. Irving erupted for a staggering 44 points, leaving the Knicks scrambling for answers. Adding salt to the wound, former Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. had a red-hot night, contributing 32 points.

The Mavericks played without their star, Luka Doncic, sidelined with an ankle sprain. Even without their star player, the Mavericks managed to fend off the surging Knicks, despite having two other starters out, in Dereck Lively II and Dante Exum.

This loss marked the end of the Knicks’ scorching 5-0 streak since the OG Anunoby trade. The team, which had seemed invincible in 2024, faced a formidable opponent in the Mavericks and fell just short of extending their impressive run.

Up-next: Knicks (22-16) will continue their road trip tonight in Memphis against the Grizzlies (14-23)