NEW YORK — Max Christie poured in a season-best 26 points and fellow rookie Cooper Flagg added 18 in his first professional appearance at Madison Square Garden, powering the short-handed Dallas Mavericks to a 114-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Monday night.
New York supporters booed loudly during a second-quarter collapse that left the home team trailing by 30. The Knicks (25-18) have now dropped four straight games and nine of their last 11 despite welcoming starters Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart back from ankle injuries.
The Mavericks (record not provided) collected their third consecutive win even with several regulars sidelined. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, returned after sitting out two victories against Utah with a sprained left ankle and also grabbed seven rebounds. Naji Marshall chipped in 18 points for Dallas.
Karl-Anthony Towns paced New York with 22 points and 18 rebounds, while Brunson matched the 22-point output. Mitchell Robinson finished with 12 points and 15 boards.
First-half surge keys Dallas
Dallas opened the night on a 16-4 run and led 31-22 after one quarter even though New York missed all nine of its three-point attempts in the period. Flagg scored the Mavericks’ first seven points of the second quarter, igniting a 13-0 burst that stretched the margin to 51-31.
Towns briefly halted the onslaught with five straight points, but moments later he was called for a flagrant foul after kicking Dwight Powell while attempting a shot. Marshall responded with nine unanswered points, and Christie’s three-pointer pushed the advantage to 30 at 73-43. Dallas headed to the locker room up 75-47 as boos rained down again.
Knicks’ slide continues
The Knicks, who captured the inaugural NBA Cup in December and stood 23-9 at month’s end, have tumbled to third place in the Eastern Conference under first-year head coach Mike Brown.
Dallas maintained a comfortable cushion throughout the second half, never allowing New York closer than 15. The Mavericks sealed the outcome at the foul line in the closing minutes, sending the Garden crowd home disgruntled.
Source: ESPN
