The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Knicks in New York by a score of 108-85. RJ Barrett scored 32 points for the Knicks in the win. Luka Doncic scored 21 in the loss to Dallas.

There’s something very Mavs-ian about dominating the leaders of both conferences in the span of a week, then turning around and losing a largely uncompetitive game to an average Knicks team. At the very least, it should serve as a reminder not to be a prisoner in the moment. There’s no doubt that their recent run up to this point has been the funniest the team has been on the whole season, but it hasn’t erased the offensive gaps they faced before that. A loss shouldn’t be a reason to burn it either. But anyone who thought Dallas was a reinvented team in 2022 should have their rose-tinted glasses a little foggy from the loss.

Offensive offensive

These New Year’s Mavericks generated wins largely by building on their new defensive mindset and then doing enough on the offensive end to rack up the wins. Tonight it was clear from the start that the offense just didn’t click. They started the game by shooting 2 of 11 of three. They changed their minds a bit by coming back to taking just six shots from the second quarter. Even then, they managed to hit just one.

In particular, the shooting struggles Dorian Finney-Smith had apparently gone through to start the season found him tonight. He missed a number of open glances and ended the night at 0 of 4. However, this wasn’t just a case where the cast wasn’t stepping up. Doncic’s shot selection was suspect, with multiple possessions consisting of nothing more than a lazy post in front of a failed horseman. He also didn’t help with the three-point shot, with an unsettling 1 in 9.

Perhaps no game sums up Dallas’ offensive ineffectiveness better than a quick five-on-four break in the second quarter as Dallas tried to get back into the game. A failed Mitchell Robinson lane saw Dallas pick up the pace… until Marquese Chriss was called up for an offensive foul and Maverick turnover.

The decisive section

Although it was freezing for a half, Dallas started the third with 11. Nothing insurmountable, sure. In fact, in less than two minutes, they had narrowed the gap to a single-digit deficit of just seven. What followed was a 14-1 Knicks run that took their lead to 20 in just a little more. three and a half minutes. Dallas never sniffed his head again.

It was a particularly brutal play streak for Doncic. Dallas took six shots, only landed one – a Powell dunk – and Luka contributed four of five misses. Most were flip jumpers in and around the track that didn’t really fall for anyone tonight.

The writing was pretty much on the wall after that. Just one of those nights in Dallas.

No appetite for revenge

Maybe that’s confirmation bias, but it feels like if there’s one thing Mavericks fans can count on, it’s getting punked by ex-Mavericks. This year added a new wrinkle, getting punked by Desmond Bane – someone who’s never even been a Maverick in the first place, but he’s still angry enough with us to kick off a career high when he does. faces our team.

It’s neither here nor there, but with a team that’s around 40% New York Knick rejects, I’m always on the lookout for someone with a chip on their shoulder, looking to stick it in. to the team that let them go. And that never happens. Tim Hardaway Jr. and Reggie Bullock have regressed since their recent resumption of filming. Frank Ntilikina only saw the ground at the time of the garbage. Hell, Kristaps Porzingis wasn’t even there. Even our coach, former Knick Jason Kidd was not on the sidelines! It’s life. Dallas should look to put this one in the rear view as soon as possible and return to its winning ways in 2022.