NEW YORK – Whether he’s in the starting lineup or coming off the bench, Naji Marshall keeps finding ways to have an impact on the game.
On Monday against the Brooklyn Nets, Marshall found himself being one of the first players entering the game off the bench. It was his first time in that position since the March 3 against the Sacramento Kings.
But that change in roles mattered not to Marshall as he finished against the Nets with a game-high 23 points while converting 9-of-15 shots in a workmanlike 27 minutes. He also has now scored 20 or more points in eight of the Mavs’ last 10 games.
Marshall came off the bench against the Nets because the Mavs welcomed back Anthony Davis, who played his first game since straining his left adductor against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8.
“I just keep learning how to play with my teammates,” Marshall said. “I’ve played a bunch of different positions with these guys.
“I’m just learning how to play with the first group, the second group, and learning my teammates on offense and defense.”
Marshall is also learning that it’s shaping up to be a dogfight between the Mavs and Phoenix Suns in regard to which team will secure the 10th and final Western Conference play-in spot. With just 10 games remaining, the Mavs and Suns currently have identical 35-37 records.
However, since Phoenix won the season series over the Mavs, 3-1, the Suns will clinch the 10th seed if the Mavs and Phoenix end the season tied for the 10th spot. If that happens, the Mavs will be in the NBA Draft Lottery.
“As long as we get in (the play-in tournament), we know what time it is and what has to be done,” Marshall said. “We’re just trying to make it and win some games, put up a bunch of wins in a row and do what we’ve got to do.”
Here are some other nuggets surrounding Tuesday’s game against the Knicks.
*The four-game road trip for the Mavs opened with Monday’s 120-101 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets. After facing the Knicks on Tuesday, the Mavs will play in
Orlando on Thursday and in Chicago on Saturday before returning home to entertain the Nets on March 31.
*The Knicks lost last week at San Antonio (120-105) and at Charlotte (115-98) before returning home and beating the Washington Wizards (122-103) Saturday. Karl-Anthony Towns (31 points, 11 rebounds), Mikal Bridges (27 points) and OG Anunoby (23 points) manufactured the most points for the Knicks in that game.
*Over the past three games, Mavs guard Spencer Dinwiddie is averaging 21.3 points, 10.3 assists and three steals. He also has converted 22 of his 38 field goals over that span for 57.9 percent.
*Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is recovering from a sprained right ankle and isn’t expected back until at least the final two weeks of the season. Brunson hasn’t 
played since suffering his injury during the Knicks’ 113-109 overtime loss at the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6. The Knicks have posted a 4-4 record since Brunson’s injury.
*After playing with the Mavs from 2008-12, Jason Kidd finished his playing career during the 2012-13 season when he played for the Knicks. In that one season with the Knicks, Kidd averaged six points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists while playing 76 games, including starting 48 of them.
*The Knicks are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, but only two-and-a-half games ahead of the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers. The Knicks have a 23-11 record at home, while the Mavs are 15-21 on the road.
*The Mavs had four players score at least 21 points when they defeated the Knicks, 129-114, on Nov. 27 in Dallas: Naji Marshall (24), Kyrie Irving (23), Quentin Grimes (21) and Spencer Dinwiddie (21).
DALLAS MAVERICKS (35-37) at NEW YORK KNICKS (44-26)
When: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV: KFAA-29, MavsTV Stream
Radio: KEGL 97.1 FM The Eagle, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)
X: @DwainPrice
Share and comment