Three Takeaways From Knicks Ugly Win Over Mavericks

The Knicks shot just 3-for-22 from three-point range in the first half, yet Brunson's message at halftime remained optimistic.

"We were getting good looks. We got to continue to get stops and play with pace. And let's keep trusting each other."​

Shamet's Heroics and a Controversial Finish

Landry Shamet delivered clutch performances on both ends in the final minute, drilling back-to-back three-pointers at 1:03 and 31.4 seconds to give New York a 112-109 lead.

However, his most critical contribution came with 0.7 seconds remaining when he drew a charging foul on Dallas guard Brandon Williams, whose layup would have tied the game.

The controversial call frustrated Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who called it a "tough call" that sealed their fate. Shamet's heroics masked deeper issues, the Knicks shot 19-for-35 (54.3%) from the free-throw line, including five consecutive misses in the final 22 seconds before Brunson's clutch make.​

Dallas Bench Dominance Can't Overcome Starting Unit Failure

The Mavericks' bench had a total of 64 points, led by D'Angelo Russell and Naji Marshall's 23 points each, while the starting lineup contributed just 47 points, a troubling imbalance.

Despite Dallas connecting on 16-of-44 from three-point range compared to New York's 12-for-42, the Mavericks collapsed when it mattered most, going 3-for-11 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter.

Karl-Anthony Towns (18 points, 14 rebounds) and Josh Hart (16 points, 10 rebounds) provided enough balance for the Knicks to overcome their shooting woes.

"Finally, finally," Brunson said when asked about securing the road victory. "I mean, we're happy, but we got a lot of work to do."​