Kyrie Irving’s season-high 44 points and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 32 propelled the short-handed Dallas Mavericks to a 128-124 victory over the New York Knicks, who were without Luka Doncic and two other starters. Despite a 19-point lead in the third quarter, the Knicks staged a late comeback, narrowing the gap to 121-120. Josh Green’s 3-pointer, aided by three оffensive rebounds, secured a crucial 124-120 lead for the Mavericks. Irving and Hardaway sealed the win with four free throws. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 32 points, while Jalen Brunson scored 30 in his return to Dallas. OG Anunoby’s 10 points in the fourth quarter couldn’t prevent the Knicks from their first loss in six games since acquiring him. Irving and Hardaway’s combined 12 of 23 on 3-pointers showcased the Mavericks’ perimeter strength. Despite a slow start, the Mavericks capitalized on оffensive rebounds, mirroring their previous comeback win against the Knicks in December 2022.