Mavericks lose home win compass
On Wednesday, they were outplayed in every aspect of the game by the New York Knicks and, in addition to the 107-77 result, had their five-game winning streak snapped at Dallas’ American Airlines Center.
“We had a lot of really good things in this streak at home,” said Mavericks coach Jason Kidd. “We can’t let one bad game ruin everything. And that’s not going to happen. We just played poorly and lost tonight.”
The 30-point deficit represents the largest deficit the Mavericks have had at home this season, where they showed little to nothing on the offensive end of the court.
Only in the third quarter were they competitive in a game where they never had the lead and found themselves down by as many as 32 points.
“I think our energy failed,” Kidd acknowledged. “The shooting wasn’t very good. We talked about that before the game. Some people started to cool their shots and then it seemed to spread to everybody. It’s something that happens. That’s why you play 82 games. We were held under 42 percent (shooting from the field), we just couldn’t score.”
In the end, the Mavericks shot just 31.4 percent from the field and had just a 28 percent success rate in the first half. They missed 38 three-point attempts (6/44), the most in franchise history, and totaled just 11 assists, their fewest of the season on a pathetic night against the New York Islanders.
Luka Doncic scored 31 points, including 17 in the first 10 minutes of the third period, along with six rebounds and four assists. Spence Dinwiddie scored another 13 and were the only two Mavs in double figures offensively for Dallas.
Maxi Kleber and Reggie Bullock combined for 0-15 shooting from the field, including 12 three-point attempts.
“We just have to keep going,” Doncic said. “We have to focus on the next one. We won five in a row and had a bad game, just like that.”
For the Knicks, it was a well-worked victory on both sides of the ball and their third straight win after losing seven in a row and 11 of 12
Six New York players were in double figures in points, including all starters, led by Julius Randle’s 26, just one game after scoring 46 against the Sacramento Kings.
“It was important to play well for me, here at home,” acknowledged Randle, who hails from Dallas, where he continues to reside this offseason. “I played in front of my mom, my sister and obviously my wife and kids. Whenever I come here, I like to put on a little show.”
The Mavericks, who remained in fifth place in the West, one game behind the Utah Jazz, will begin a five-game road trip in Houston on Friday, their longest remaining in the regular season that will also take them to Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Charlotte.
“We had trouble making baskets early in the season and we found ways to win games,” Kidd mentioned. “We’ll learn from this, pack our bags and travel to Houston.”
The Knicks, who are 12th in the East, will continue with the final two games of their four-game road trip, starting Friday at Memphis and Brooklyn, before returning to their home arena.
“We have to extend this good momentum,” Knicks coach Tim Thibodeaux. “We have to take it day by day and focus on getting better. That’s the only emphasis.”
