Basketball fans love a good grudge. Whenever we see a New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks matchup on the calendar, the conversation immediately veers toward Jalen Brunson’s exit from Texas or the ghost of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. It’s predictable.
But if you actually watch the games lately, especially that wild 113-111 Knicks win in Dallas back in November, the reality is way more complicated than just a "revenge" story.
The Knicks are currently sitting pretty near the top of the East, while the Mavericks have been clawing through a bizarrely inconsistent season. People keep waiting for Dallas to "win" the breakup, but the chemistry in New York right now is arguably the best it has been since the mid-90s. This isn't just about one guy leaving a team; it's about two franchises that have swapped identities over the last few years.
The Landry Shamet Factor and That Wild Ending
Let’s be honest. Everyone expected the last New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks game to be decided by a Luka Doncic step-back or a Brunson drive. Instead, we got the Landry Shamet show.
Shamet hitting those two clutch threes in the final minute was one thing. But drawing that charging foul on Brandon Williams with 0.7 seconds left? That was pure chaos. It’s the kind of play that doesn't show up in a "Superstars Only" highlight reel, but it’s exactly why the Knicks are winning games they used to lose.
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New York didn't even shoot well. They were 19 for 35 from the free-throw line. That's nearly 54 percent. In any other era, a Knicks team shooting like that would get blown out. But they found a way to win because their bench, led by Josh Hart’s 16 points and 10 rebounds, simply outworked the Mavs' starters.
Why the "Brunson Revenge" Narrative is Lazy
It’s easy to say Jalen Brunson wants to stick it to Mark Cuban every time they play. Honestly, though, Brunson has nothing left to prove. He got the contract, he got the "Captain" title, and he has a roster built specifically to mask his defensive limitations.
The real story in the New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks dynamic is how the rosters have inverted.
- New York's Villanova Connection: With Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have a weird, collegiate synergy that shouldn't work this well in the pros. It’s basically the "Power of Friendship" but with elite wing defense.
- Dallas' Star Power: The Mavs have gone the opposite route. They have Luka and Kyrie, and now they’ve added Anthony Davis to the mix. It’s a "Video Game" roster that occasionally forgets how to play regular basketball.
- The Karl-Anthony Towns Variable: KAT’s arrival in New York changed the math. In that November game, he put up 18 points and 14 rebounds. He stretches the floor in a way that makes life miserable for a traditional defense, even one anchored by someone as talented as Dereck Lively II.
The Mavs' bench actually outscored the Knicks' bench 64 to 39 in their last meeting. D’Angelo Russell and Naji Marshall both had 23 points. Usually, when your bench gives you 64, you win. But the Mavs' starters combined for only 47 points. That is where the game was lost.
Dealing With the Porzingis Ghost
We can’t talk about New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks without mentioning the trade that basically defined the late 2010s for both teams. At the time, everyone thought Dallas fleeced New York. Getting a 7-foot unicorn to pair with Luka? It seemed like a guaranteed ring.
Fast forward to 2026. Porzingis is a champion, but with the Celtics. The picks the Knicks got eventually turned into the assets used to stabilize the franchise.
It’s a reminder that "winning" a trade takes about five years to actually judge. The Knicks used the cap space and the draft capital to pivot toward a gritty, defensive-minded culture under Tom Thibodeau. Dallas, meanwhile, has been in a constant state of "win now" shuffling, which leads to high-ceiling but low-floor performances.
What to Look for in the January 19 Rematch
The next time these two face off is January 19 at Madison Square Garden. If you’re betting on this, or even just watching for fun, keep an eye on the "Villanova Three."
When Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are on the floor together, they create a defensive wall that is a nightmare for ball-dominant guards. Luka is obviously one of the few humans capable of breaking that wall, but he’s going to have to work for every single inch.
Also, watch the center battle. Karl-Anthony Towns versus Anthony Davis is a heavyweight fight we didn't expect to see in a New York Knicks vs Dallas Mavericks game a few years ago. It’s a matchup of two of the most skilled big men in league history. KAT wants to pull AD out to the perimeter, while AD wants to punish the Knicks in the paint.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Free Throw Line: If New York shoots 54% from the stripe again, they won't get lucky twice. They are usually a much better shooting team than they showed in November.
- Bench Depth Matters: Keep an eye on Miles "Deuce" McBride. His ability to provide spark-plug scoring often dictates whether the Knicks can survive the minutes when Brunson rests.
- Luka's Workload: In high-stakes games against New York, Luka tends to high-point his usage rate. If he plays more than 40 minutes, watch for him to tire out in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter—that's when the Knicks' conditioning usually takes over.
- Check the Injury Report: Josh Hart recently came back from an ankle sprain. If he’s not 100%, the Knicks lose their most important "connector" player who does all the dirty work.
The rivalry is no longer about who got the better of a trade or who felt slighted in free agency. It’s about two completely different philosophies of team building. One team is built on "Vibes and Versatility," and the other is built on "Pure Star Talent." Usually, at the Garden, the vibes win out.