Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis couldn't hide from the sea of boos from Madison Square Garden, the place he called home for the past three-and-a-half seasons as a member of the New York Knicks. Marcus Morris, who signed a one-year, $15 million deal to join the Knicks in the summer, made sure he wouldn't forget his first welcome, burying a clutch 3-pointer to seal the win.
Though Morris admitted Porzingis' reception at MSG was on another level of booing.
“I get it around this league,” said Morris, according to The Associated Press, “but it was a different level.”
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle tried to emotionally prep him to face his team for the first time last month, though his strong performance of 28 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks was in a losing effort.
Things didn't change much this time around, as neither a 20-point, 11-rebound effort from the unicorn, nor a 33-point triple-double from sidekick Luka Doncic could stop the Knicks from grabbing bragging rights a second time in the span of two weeks.
“I’ve been coming here a long time. Nothing surprises me in here. It was what it was,” said Carlisle. “We knew it was going to be a difficult atmosphere regardless of what the exact response was.”
The Knicks now have three wins on the season, two of them against the Mavs — though there has to be a lot more winning to be done before they can call Porzingis' trade a true success.
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