NBA: Mavericks use big second quarter to trounce reeling Knicks

Cooper Flagg and Naji Marshall each scored 11 points during a dominant second quarter Monday, helping the visiting Dallas Mavericks secure a 114-97 rout of the struggling New York Knicks. The Mavericks never trailed in the game.

Max Christie led Dallas with a game-high 26 points, setting a new career high by making eight 3-pointers. He hit three of those in the second quarter, when the Mavericks outscored the Knicks 44-25 and opened a 30-point lead. Christie’s six 3-pointers in the first half also broke his previous single-game best of five, which he had achieved three times before.

Marshall finished with 19 points, while Flagg—who missed the previous two games due to a left ankle injury—added 18 points and seven rebounds in his NBA debut at Madison Square Garden.

Moussa Cisse contributed 15 points and Klay Thompson added 14, both coming off the bench for Dallas. The Mavericks tied a season high with their third consecutive win, outscoring opponents by 57 points over their last three games, including victories over the Knicks and Utah Jazz.

For New York, Karl-Anthony Towns posted 22 points and 18 rebounds, while reserve Mitchell Robinson added 12 points and 14 rebounds. The Knicks have now lost nine of their last 11 games, including six by double digits. New York’s record has dropped to 7-11 since winning the NBA Cup final against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 16.

Jalen Brunson returned from a two-game absence due to a right ankle injury and scored 22 points with six assists. Josh Hart, who missed Saturday’s 106-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns, finished with eight points and six rebounds.

Christie started the game strong, hitting three 3-pointers during a 16-4 opening run that gave the Mavericks an early lead. Dallas led by as many as 15 points before closing the first quarter with a 31-22 advantage.

Flagg scored the Mavericks’ first seven points of the second quarter, while the Knicks briefly cut the lead to seven at 38-31 on Robinson’s dunk with 9:23 remaining. Dallas then responded with a 13-0 run, taking a 20-point lead on Marshall’s layup with 6:41 left in the half. The Knicks went 0-for-6 and committed two turnovers during that stretch.

Christie’s 3-pointer extended the lead to 75-45 with 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Dallas led 75-47 at halftime and never allowed the Knicks to come closer than 15 points in the final two quarters.

—Field Level Media/Reuters