The Knicks didn’t deliver a flawless performance, but when the final buzzer sounded, they secured a 113-111 win against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, marking their first road victory of the season.
Jalen Brunson, who led the team with 28 points, reflected on breaking a four-game losing streak, stating, “Finally, finally. We’re happy, but there’s still a lot of work ahead.”
The game started off rocky, with Brunson shooting just 9-of-25 overall and 3-of-11 from three-point range in the opening quarter. Despite strong defensive efforts that limited Dallas to 16-of-42 shooting (38.1%) in the first half and allowed the Knicks to build a three-point lead, late-game struggles at the free-throw line—shooting 19-of-35 (54.3%) overall and 3-of-10 in the fourth quarter—put their hard work at risk. Landry Shamet made a critical impact by hitting back-to-back three-pointers with 31 seconds remaining, keeping the Knicks in the game.
Brunson put New York ahead with a clutch free throw with 3.8 seconds left, but quickly had to defend against a fast Dallas inbounds play. Brandon Williams drove to the basket and, after contact, appeared to score as time expired, but the referee called an offensive foul with 0.7 seconds left, nullifying the basket.
Mavs coach Jason Kidd called it a difficult call, acknowledging Williams had a good shot but the foul was rightly called. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau credited Shamet for his tough defense, saying, “I’ll give it to (the referee). That was a hook,” highlighting Shamet’s hustle that caused the foul.
Brunson described the final moments as chaotic, while Shamet admitted the ending was tough but agreed with the officials’ decision, saying, “As a defender, that’s the call I want.”
Despite the win, Shamet stressed the need for more consistent play across the full game to avoid close calls like this. In the second half, the Knicks improved their shooting, hitting 21 of 43 shots (48.8%), including 9 of 20 from beyond the arc, a big improvement from the first half’s 3-for-22.
Shamet, who struggled to find open looks early, redeemed himself with clutch shots late that helped tie and then take the lead. Yet, he admitted those two missed free throws late in the game still linger in his mind. “I have to make two free throws,” he said. “It was a wild finish, but it’s a road win, and those aren’t always pretty.”
Brunson echoed the sentiment, “It was an ugly game, but when you get an ugly win, it shows the team is learning and improving.”
Ultimately, the Knicks did just enough to come out on top—proving that sometimes, an ugly win is better than a beautiful loss.
Fan Take: This game highlights the gritty determination needed in professional basketball, reminding fans that success isn’t always about flawless execution but resilience and adaptability. For the sport, it emphasizes the importance of defense and persistence, traits that can define teams heading into the tough stretch of the season.
