On Thursday, The New York Knicks (23-16) had been favored to defeat the Luka-less Dallas Mavericks night but played sloppy, dug a 20-point hole, and, despite a late surge, ultimately fell short. It’s often a hard-learned lesson: never underestimate your opponent.
Due to injuries, the Memphis Grizzlies (14-25) had only nine players available tonight. Anyone with a bill in their pocket would be forgiven for laying it on the visitors. Even with Jalen Brunson scratched for a sore calf, the Knicks were in excellent position for a win.
Nevertheless, the Bad News Bears outscored the Knicks in the first and second quarters, carried a lead into halftime, and were still within eight points late at the FedEx Forum.