The Knicks ended Saturday’s game getting booed off the court by their own fans. Two days later, they didn’t wait nearly as long.
The boos rained down — loudly — as Cooper Flagg stole a pass from Miles McBride and went coast-to-coast to put the Mavericks up 18 points with 7:10 left in the second quarter. Coach Mike Brown called a timeout, but after play resumed, they were quickly down 20. Not long after, the deficit grew to 30. They went into halftime down 28, and the boos returned even louder. By the final whistle, though, they were met with something even worse — silence, as most fans had already left. Owner James Dolan never returned to his seat after halftime.
As the Knicks continue to spiral, this represented a new low. This, almost certainly, was their worst loss of the year — at a time when they keep providing new candidates for that dishonor.
The Knicks were finally at full strength. The Mavericks, who entered the clash nine games under .500, carried an injury list that barely fit on the screen. There were no excuses to be made.
But the Knicks were mauled 114-97 Monday night at Madison Square Garden, extending their losing streak to four. It’s their second four-game skid in their past 11 games. They went 2-9 in those 11 games and are now 7-11 since their NBA Cup triumph. In a season that was set with Finals-or-bust expectations, the Knicks sit just 1 ¹/₂ games above the play-in.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 reacts on the court during the first half on Monday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“We didn’t show up,” Jalen Brunson said.
Any idea why?
“No,” he responded.
It now feels like ages ago that Brown was being praised when his Knicks were firing on all cylinders. The alarm bells around his team keep growing louder, and it was Mavericks coach Jason Kidd — who The Post previously reported the Knicks had strong interest in hiring but were denied permission to interview — who delivered the latest gut punch to Brown’s team.
“I think we all need to do some soul searching, some looking in the mirror and figuring out what we’re gonna do individually, what we’re gonna do as a team, what our identity is,” Josh Hart said. “Because right now, we’re playing embarrassing basketball.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson #23 reacts on the court during the first half. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“The effort, I think last year no matter what we did, the effort was there. I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today, it was embarrassing.”
As has been thematic during this downturn, there was a disturbing lack of resistance defensively. They let the Mavericks shoot 49 percent from the field and 47 percent from 3-point range. Ball handlers penetrated the paint with ease.
“They scored 75 points in the first half,” Brown said. “Halftime, we usually do the clips and talk about technical X’s and O’s and all that crap that coaches do, teams do. There was nothing to be said at halftime. Except for lock in and do your f–king — do your job.”
They outscored the Mavericks by 11 in the second half. But right now, there are no silver linings.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges #25 drives into the paint as Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall #13 defends during the third quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Max Christie — who entered Monday averaging 12.5 points per game — torched the Knicks, finishing with a season-high 26 points and going 8-for-10 from 3-point range. Naji Marshall — who entered averaging 14.1 points per game — added 19 points. Flagg chipped in 18.
The Knicks themselves went cold offensively again, shooting 40 percent from the field and 29 percent from 3-point range. It’s the fourth time since Jan. 1 they’ve failed to score 100 points.
When Karl-Anthony Towns went on a solo 7-0 run midway through the third quarter, the brief set of cheers and “de-fense” chants around MSG almost felt like charity.
Brunson, returning after missing two games with a sprained ankle, struggled with his shot — he went 9-for-24 from the field and finished with 22 points. Towns picked up a flagrant foul for kicking Dwight Powell right in the groin while taking a 3-pointer during the second quarter, the only bit of fight he or his teammates showed all game. If you didn’t look closely, it would be hard to tell Mikal Bridges even played. The bench, other than Mitchell Robinson, offered nothing.
“They just came out more hungry,” Miles McBride said. “And I think that’s been the main thing over the last 11. Teams are coming out more hungry than us.”
Robinson, who had 12 points, 15 rebounds (eight offensive) and two blocks, is the only one who delivered anything to be proud of.
Hart, back after missing last game with a sore right ankle, said he returned from his ankle sprain before he was 100 percent because of the Knicks struggles, part of the reason his ankle is still sore. But having him back in the lineup made no difference.
“If I could,” Hart said about being able to diagnose what’s gone wrong, “I don’t think we’d be in this stretch.”
That’s perhaps the most concerning part of this collapse. There is no easy answer.
