As since the start of the season, Luka Doncic (38 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists) is breathtaking in this start of the meeting. Despite a Frank Ntilikina in watchdog mode, the Slovenian is walking. It’s simple, he is involved in the first 17 points of his team. Either he scores, or he finds an open teammate like his two assists for Kristaps Porzingis (28 points) concluded by two 3-point bombs.
Despite the talent of the two Europeans, New York shows beautiful things. The Knicks move the ball around and Julius Randle takes the opportunity to give headaches to his opposite. The rotations done by David Fizdale are good. Bobby Portis rules the racquet and his passion is contagious. After 12 minutes, New York is ahead (36-28).
Frank Ntilikina veut posterizer Kristaps Porzingis !
Arrived at the end, Allonzo Trier answers present. Aggressive by dribbling, he allows his team to maintain the gap (40-31). Facing his former team, Porzingis is gradually gaining strength. All the balls in attack go into the hands of the Latvian and, often, it ends with a 2-point low post or 3-point basket on the “pick-and-pop”. Helped by Doncic’s return to creation, Dallas picks up the score despite the address of Ntilikina (52-49).
The Frenchman is on fire and tries to crush a huge dunk on the muzzle of Porzingis, who covers him! An action that does not cool the leader of the France team, who plays without asking questions in attack, while making life difficult in Doncic.
The two players are fighting a good battle at the end of the 1st half. The Slovenian star stealthily gives his team the advantage (57-54) thanks to two high-class actions but the former SIG player answers him behind the 3-point line. The Knicks end this first half on a 7-0 to logically lead to the break (61-57).
Luka Doncic is a phenomenon
New York returns with the same intentions. Admittedly, it is very hard to limit the relationship between Porzingis and Doncic in attack, but the Big Apple players are united, focused and above all determined not to let their opponents return to the game. The Randle / Gibson racket works wonderfully and Dallas does not yet have the defensive solutions to doubt the band in Fizdale (74-66). The Mavs cannot contain the beautiful 3-point address of Randle or Morris. The two men play without pressure. As soon as they are open, they draw and it is the whole New York bench that rises (84-72).
With his back to the wall, Dallas relies on his henchman. “King Luka” takes advantage of Ntilikina’s exit to inflict an 8-0 to the Knicks. His “step back” followed by the 3-point shot on Portis is exceptional. Pushed by their room, the Mavs are gradually returning to the score. There are 12 minutes left and New York is still ahead in the score (84-80).
Mr. Frank Ntilikina
Reinvigorated by their good end of 3rd act, the Texans take over the reins of the game thanks to former Knicks, Hardaway Jr and Porzingis (90-87). But one man will change everything. Back on the floor, Ntilikina puts his team back on the right track. By his defense (one against Hardaway Jr) but especially by his offensive contribution. His five points in a row allow the Knicks to take back control (92-90). The Frenchman has restored confidence to his entire team. He is the one who shows the way and his defensive sequences are a model of the genre. On the other side of the field, Randle, at 3-point, thinks of knocking out a Dallas team overwhelmed by the rage of Ntilikina and his gang. New York has the game in hand (102-92).
But Doncic is a huge player and he takes matters into his own hands. A pass for Hardaway Jr and two 2-point baskets later, Dallas gives himself the right to dream of the hold-up (103-99) thanks to his “sophomore”.
A stifling end to the match
Unsurprisingly, Dallas cut the action and sent RJ Barrett to the free throw line. Good choice considering that the rookie makes 0/2 but Kristaps Porzingis is made have on the rebound by Randle. Unlike his young teammate, the latter does not miss the line and New York breathes (105-99).
But Hardaway Jr returns a new shot from afar and the Knicks remain at gunpoint of their opponents (105-102). Like Barrett seconds later, Gibson misses both of his free throws and gives Doncic an opportunity to equalize. But the Slovenian, irreproachable so far, takes a shot from more than 8 meters while there were still 18 seconds on the clock … No one in the room understood the choice of the prodigy. New York wins a second game this season. With the way!
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