#New York Knicks

#New York Knicks

NEW YORK -- Max Christie scored a season-high 26 points, Cooper Flagg had 18 in his first pro game at Madison Square Garden and the Dallas Mavericks rolled to a 114-97 victory Monday over the New York Knicks, who were booed frequently in the first half while falling behind by 30. The Knicks lost their fourth straight and ninth in 11 games, even with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart back from ankle injuries to return them to full strength.

The Washington Wizards are being monitored ahead of the NBA trade deadline in February for a variety of reasons. Not only do the Wizards have several glaring holes on the roster that need to be addressed, but they also have multiple players who could be major additions for playoff-bound teams looking for an upgrade to their depth chart. Whether the Wizards plan to be buyers or sellers at the deadline is still unknown,

The Knicks took care of business first, defeating the Orlando Magic 132-120 after a stellar performance from guard Jalen Brunson. He dropped a season-high 40 points, plus eight assists. It marked Brunson's 19th 40-point performance as a Knick, the third most in franchise history, according to ESPN Research. Knicks coach Mike Brown said Brunson's performance is "what MVPs are supposed to do."

Victor Wembanyama returned from a 12-game absence with 22 points and nine rebounds, giving San Antonio a surge and the Oklahoma City Thunder just their second loss with the 111-109 victory Saturday night putting the Spurs in the NBA Cup final. The Spurs play the New York Knicks in Tuesday night's final. Oklahoma's last defeat was on 5 November at Portland, and the Thunder carried a 16-game winning streak into this game.

Last year's leader in minutes played, Hart was relegated to a bench role upon Brown's arrival. But injuries to OG Anunoby and Landry Shamet have thrust the 30-year-old back into the starting lineup, and he's running with his chance. During the Knicks' four-game winning streak, which just so happens to coincide with his first four starts of the season, Hart is averaging 17 points, 11.8 rebounds, and seven assists in 36 minutes per night.

The Knicks lost to the Orlando Magic 133-121 Saturday, failing to cover as a 2-point road underdog. The Over (230.5) cashed. G Jalen Brunson scored a team-high 33 points on 12-for-21 shooting. New York has alternated wins and losses over its last 6 games, going 2-4 against the spread (ATS) in that span. It is 8-7 ATS on the season. The Knicks beat the Nets 134-98 at home Nov. 9, 2025, the last time these teams met. New York covered as a 15.5-point favorite as the Over (227) cashed.

Even though it's not too often that two rivals like the Knicks and Heat do business with each other, the former could be a soft landing spot for Yabusele. The Heat needs a big man and will likely attempt to add one after December 15. Who knows if the Heat would look to New York, but he's a player who does become trade-eligible on December 15, and one who does have characteristics of being a culture-type player.