Mavs-Knicks preview: Brunson returns on a roll

It’s always good to see an old friend but in this case, pleasantries will have to wait.

The Mavericks need wins too desperately to worry about catching up with Jalen Brunson, the all-star point guard who bolted from Dallas after the 2022 run to the Western Conference finals.

He signed a mega-contract with the New York Knicks as a free agent and has prospered with them.

And the Mavericks have been just fine without Brunson, reaching the NBA Finals last season.

Things tend to work out for a reason and in this case, Brunson’s decision to leave the Mavericks was a good one for both sides.

The Knicks make their only appearance of the season in Dallas on Wednesday and Brunson is coming off the Knicks 145-118 wipeout of the Nuggets in Denver, when he had a whopping 17 assists. Many of those went to OG Anunoby, who had a career-best 40 points against the Nuggets.

Brunson is averaging 24.9 points and 7.9 assists. He’s the ringleader of the ‘Nova mafia, the alumni members of Villanova that also include Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. Gone is Donte DiVincenzo, who was traded in the offseason to Minnesota as part of the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.

Speaking of which, the Knicks have absolutely nothing to regret about that deal. Towns has been sensational, averaging 26.3 and 12.6 rebounds per game.

The Knicks sacrificed a lot for Towns – a first-round pick, Julius Randle, DeVincenzo and other assets. But it’s hard to argue with the results.

But it is Brunson who will be the headliner for the Knicks, at least in the Mavericks’ fans eyes. He did not play in New York’s 2022-23 visit to American Airlines Center. Last season, he had 30 points and eight assists in his first game as a visitor at AAC.

It should be interesting to see how the Mavericks handle him and the red-hot Knicks.

Here’s what else to look for as the Knicks come to American Airlines Center on Wednesday for an early tipoff (6:30 p.m.).

• Injuries will be an issue. Luka Dončić will miss his fourth consecutive game with a right wrist sprain. Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II and Quentin Grimes all are questionable with the same illness that hindered them at Atlanta. The Knicks expect to be without Precious Achiuwa (hamstring) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle).
• Red-hot Knicks? Yes they are. Just like the Mavericks, they have won five of their last six games, including two of three to start this five-game trip that concludes Wednesday at Charlotte.
• Is it possible Tom Thibodeau is changing his spots? The Knicks’ coach has been one of the best coaches in the league at stressing defense at all of his NBA stops as a head coach. But this season, the Knicks are second in the league in offensive rating and just 22^nd in total defensive rating. The Knicks are shooting 50.4 percent as a team, second in the league. And if you think they are pillow-fighters now on the defensive end, they still hold opponents to the third-lowest two-point field-goal percentage in the league at 47.6 percent.
• Against the Nuggets on Monday, the Knicks shot 60.9 percent from the field and 52.8 percent (19-of-36) from three-point land.
• If you’re looking for somebody who has stepped up in the absence of Dončić, look no further than P.J. Washington. The 6-7 forward has had three consecutive double-doubles with Luka out, including 11 points and 10 rebounds Monday against Atlanta. He’s averaging 17 points and 11.2 rebounds in his last five games.
• This is a brief stop at home for the Mavericks as they prepare for coast-to-coast action. After being in Miami on Sunday and Atlanta on Monday, they stop home to play the Knicks then visit Utah on Saturday and Portland on Sunday.

NEW YORK KNICKS (10-7) at MAVERICKS (10-8)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas.

TV: ESPN.

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESEfko