The Knicks’ first-half offensive performance cannot be overstated: It was terrible. New York scored just 38 points in the first half and shot 11-of-42 from the field, including 4-of-21 in the entire first quarter.
New York couldn’t buy a basket anywhere on the floor, as Dallas’ suffocating defense was too much for them to handle. The Knicks also turned the ball over six times in the first half and allowed the Mavericks to get into transition, an area that continues to plague the Knicks this season.
The second-half offense was much better, shooting 29-of-44 and scoring 76 points in the second half, but they trailed early and couldn’t slow down Naji Marshall (24 points), Spencer Dinwiddie (21 points) and Quentin Grimes (21 points), all of whom entered the game with Doncic out.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said he was disappointed “with the way we started” and that they dug themselves into a huge hole early that was hard to get out of (h/t James L. Edwards III of The Athletic).