A rested New York team hopes to maul the Mavs, playing a segababa.
The Knicks (44–26) are back at Madison Square Garden tonight to host the Mavericks (34–37). New York sits third in the East, but dropped two games to the dregs of the league, and nearly surrendered a 33-point lead to the Washington Wizards on Saturday. Dallas, meanwhile, is clinging to life in the West’s play-in race and coming off a win in Brooklyn just 24 hours ago.
Dallas is hunting its third straight win, but the schedule isn’t doing them favors in an all-hands-on-deck situation. The Mavericks are leaning on players like Spencer Dinwiddie, P.J. Washington, and Klay Thompson to keep the offense afloat. Last night, Naji Marshall came off the bench to score 22 points in a strong team win over the Nets, 120-101. Will they have any fuel left in the tank for tonight’s tilt?
After trading Luka Dončić (and Quentin Grimes, who’s enjoying a hot hand in chilly Philly), their primary players became Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Then Irving suffered an ACL tear in March, and AD is a fast-aging 32-year-old, with injuries adding up. His latest complaint, an adductor, has him listed as day-to-day. He played 27 minutes last night in Brooklyn; due to injury management, it’s hard to believe he’ll play much, if at all, tonight.
The Knicks and Mavericks have met once this season, with Dallas taking a 129–114 win at home on November 27. Despite a 37-point night from Jalen Brunson, the Knicks couldn’t keep up with a balanced Mavericks attack led by Naji Marshall’s 24 points. The win marked Dallas’s fifth straight over New York.
On the Mavs’ injury report, Davis is listed as a game time decision; Caleb Martin, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Dante Exum are all OUT.
For the Knicks, Miles McBride is out (groin) and Mitchell Robinson is a game-time decision while he is still getting back into game shape.
Prediction
The Knicks are favored by ESPN.com at 74%. Home court and an extra day of rest benefits them, while the Mavs are on the second night of a back-to-back and AD will likely sit. Both teams have stakes in the game, though—Dallas is trying to stay in the mix, and New York wants to keep the rising Indiana Pacers away from the third seed. Playoff vibes are in the air. Watch out for Marshall, who has averaged 23 points, eight boards, and four dimes in his last ten tries, but this feels like it could be a big game for Mitchell Robinson, especially if AD is out. Tonight, New York will play keepaway from the lead for a while, but ultimately pull ahead in the final frame. Knicks by +8.
Game Details
Teams: New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks
Location: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, NYC
Date and Time: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 7:30 PM ET
Broadcast: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky