Rookie PGs square off as Mavs host Knicks
Recent clashes between the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks have centered on the Dirk Nowitzki-Kristaps Porzingis matchup, and rightfully so. The two 7-footers represent opposite ends of the spectrum, at least in terms of career arc, in the development of the stretch-4 forward.
And while Nowitzki and Porzingis will still take center stage when the Mavs (13-27) and Knicks (18-21) hook up Sunday night at American Airlines Center, plenty of attention will fall on a pair of rookie point guards who figure to be forever tied.
Dennis Smith Jr. of the Mavericks and the Knicks' Frank Ntilikina were taken back-to-back in last summer's NBA Draft. Ntilikina was taken eighth, with Smith following right behind to Dallas.
A popular narrative is the Mavs bluffed their way to Smith while fawning all over the Belgium-born and French-raised Ntilikina, always with the intention of taking of taking the North Carolina State product.
Dallas owner Mark Cuban has denied that the Ntilikina interest was a ruse designed to get the best of the Knicks and former president (and longtime Cuban rival) Phil Jackson.
"Not a stunt at all," Cuban told the New York Daily News by email. "We like Frank quite a bit. If Dennis had been selected there was a very good chance we would have taken Frank."
But the debate hardly ends there. LeBron James jumped in early this season by taking a shot at New York for not taking Smith, who has quickly established himself as the one most likely to take the franchise player baton from Nowitzki.
Smith is starting, already has a triple-double under his belt and is averaging 13.9 points and 4.5 assists.
The defensive-minded Ntilikina is averaging a modest 5.8 points and 3.4 assists. But the 6-foot-5 reserve has turned heads with his solid skill set, and recently earned praise from San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
The Mavs are coming off a 127-124 home loss to Chicago. Dallas has lost two straight following a four-game winning streak, giving up at least 125 in each setback.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle has seen some bad habits develop.
"I mean, trading shots," he said. "Trying to outscore the other team and putting a very heavy emphasis on the offensive end and not enough on the defensive end. I don't think anyone would argue with me that allowing (Chicago) to shoot 60-something percent in the first quarter and 56.4 percent for the game is making a reasonable effort to make defense a priority."
The Knicks have dropped seven of their last eight, including Friday's 107-103 overtime loss at Miami to drop out of the playoff position in the Eastern Conference.
Courtney Lee scored a team-high 24, Michael Beasley came off the bench to score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds, and Porzingis finished with 15 points.
New York is looking to snap a three-game road losing streak at Dallas.
The Mavs are retiring the number of longtime fan favorite Derek Harper on Sunday. Harper, currently a television analyst for the team, also played for the Knicks.
