The Dallas Mavericks managed to secure a 114-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday. However, the biggest highlight of the game came whenever the spotlight was focused on Mavs power forward Dirk Nowitzki.

Nowitzki received a warm ovation from the crowd at Madison Square Garden. He acknowledged how much it meant to receive such love, via ESPN:

“It's just something I'll always remember for the rest of my life,” Nowitzki said. “The reception and the respect for what I did for over the last two decades. It's ben emotional times but it's something I'll never forget.”

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It is clear that Knicks fans had plenty of respect for the future Hall of Famer. They solidified that notion by cheering Nowitzki whenever the opportunity presented itself. Fans at MSG can take solace in the fact that their love did not go unnoticed.

Fortunately, Nowitzki was even able to reward the fans some vintage highlights throughout the night. He finished the game with 14 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting while going 2-of-3 from deep. Such performances are few and far in between for the veteran these days.

There is no question that Nowitzki will retire as one of the greatest big men in NBA history. He certainly has the resume of a bonafide Hall of Famer with 12 All-Star selections, a league MVP and an NBA championship under his belt. More importantly, he was able to make a profound impact for players coming up overseas. It is safe to assume that Nowitzki will continue to receive warm ovations on the road for the rest of the season.