Grading Mavericks Players After 129-114 Victory Against Knicks

Kyrie Irving led the Dallas Mavericks to a 129-114 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, scoring 23 points as the Mavericks showed resilience without Luka Doncic, Klay Thompson, and Daniel Gafford. The Mavericks, now 4-1 in games without their superstar this season, leaned on contributions from Naji Marshall (24 points), Spencer Dinwiddie (21 points), and P.J. Washington (19 points, 10 rebounds). 

Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson shined for the Knicks with a season-high-tying 37 points in his second visit to Dallas since leaving the team. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25 points and 14 rebounds, but OG Anunoby, fresh off a career-high 40-point game, was limited to just eight points on 3-of-15 shooting. The Knicks struggled offensively in the opening quarter, managing a season-low 15 points. 

Doncic missed his fourth straight game with a sprained wrist, but the Mavericks didn’t miss a beat, dominating early and keeping New York at bay. Dallas built momentum early, boosted by Irving’s leadership and efficient shooting from their supporting cast. The Knicks tried to rally behind Brunson’s heroics, but a balanced Mavericks attack and stifling defense thwarted their efforts. Let’s grade the Mavericks players after their impressive victory tonight. 

Kyrie Irving: A

Stats: 23 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 4 fouls, 1 turnover, 10-21 FG, 3-9 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 35 mins

Kyrie Irving led the way for Dallas with a strong all-around performance, scoring 23 points while grabbing 7 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists. His leadership was evident, particularly in the absence of Luka Doncic. Though his three-point shooting (3-of-9) was slightly off, he controlled the game’s tempo and kept the Mavericks’ offense humming.

Spencer Dinwiddie: A

Stats: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 4 fouls, 1 turnover, 8-11 FG, 3-5 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 33 mins

Spencer Dinwiddie was a model of efficiency, scoring 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting while adding 9 assists. His playmaking and timely scoring were instrumental in keeping the Knicks’ defense off balance. He also made an impact from deep, connecting on 3-of-5 three-point attempts.

P.J. Washington: A

Stats: 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 4 turnovers, 7-12 FG, 3-3 3PT FG, 2-3 FT, 36 mins

Washington delivered a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while also contributing 7 assists. He was perfect from beyond the arc (3-of-3) and provided key rim protection with 2 blocks. His ability to contribute in multiple areas was a big boost for Dallas.

Naji Marshall: A

Stats: 24 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, 10-17 FG, 2-6 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 30 mins

Naji Marshall stepped up with a season-high 24 points, shooting an impressive 10-of-17 from the field. He added a couple of free throws and proved to be a reliable scoring option in critical moments. His contributions were pivotal to maintaining the Mavericks’ lead.

Quentin Grimes: A

Stats: 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 2 fouls, 3 turnovers, 7-13 FG, 4-8 3PT FG, 3-6 FT, 29 mins

Quentin Grimes had a breakout performance, scoring 21 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. His four three-pointers were crucial in stretching the floor for the Mavericks. Grimes’ energy and efficiency on both ends of the court were standout qualities in this game.

Dereck Lively II: B

Stats: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 4 fouls, 0 turnovers, 4-5 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 4-4 FT, 29 mins

Lively played his role effectively, contributing 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line and showed defensive promise with a block. While he wasn’t a dominant force, his consistency helped anchor the Mavericks inside.

Jaden Hardy: C

Stats: 5 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 0 fouls, 1 turnover, 1-5 FG, 1-1 3PT FG, 2-2 FT, 16 mins

Jaden Hardy struggled offensively, scoring just 5 points on 1-of-5 shooting in 16 minutes. His lack of impact in other areas limited his overall contribution, though he did hit his lone three-point attempt and was perfect from the line.

Maxi Kleber: C

Stats: 1 point, 1 rebound, 0 assists, 0 steals, 1 block, 3 fouls, 1 turnover, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 1-2 FT, 24 mins

Kleber had a quiet night, scoring just 1 point and grabbing 1 rebound in 24 minutes. While he played solid defense with a block, his offensive contributions were minimal, and he failed to register a field goal attempt.

Jazian Gortman: N/A

Stats: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals, 0 blocks, 2 fouls, 0 turnovers, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 2 mins

Gortman scored 3 points in his brief 2-minute stint, knocking down his only shot attempt from deep. Not enough playing time to warrant a full grade.

Dwight Powell: N/A

Stats: 0 points, 2 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, 0 turnovers, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT FG, 0-0 FT, 7 mins

Powell logged 7 minutes, grabbing 2 rebounds and recording a steal and a block. He didn’t attempt a shot, and his limited time makes a grade unnecessary.