The New York Knicks defeated the Dallas Mavericks 113-111 in a controversial finish on Wednesday night. Brandon Williams' potential game-tying layup was waved off due to an offensive foul, a call the NBA deemed correct in its Last Two Minute Report. The Mavericks dropped to 4-12 without key players including Cooper Flagg.
The Dallas Mavericks hosted the New York Knicks on Wednesday, November 20, 2025, in a game that came down to the final seconds. Dallas led for most of the fourth quarter, but the Knicks regained the lead with 1:03 remaining and held on for a 113-111 victory, marking their first road win of the season.
In the chaotic final minute, both teams struggled at the free-throw line. The Knicks missed five free throws, while the Mavericks missed one. With 0.7 seconds left, Mavericks guard Brandon Williams drove for a layup to tie the game but was called for an offensive foul after hooking Knicks guard Landry Shamet with his left arm. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called it a 'tough call' in his postgame news conference, praising center Dereck Lively for executing the play.
The NBA's Last Two Minute Report, released Thursday, confirmed the foul on Williams was correct. However, it noted an earlier error: with seven seconds left, forward P.J. Washington was incorrectly called for a personal foul on Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, who missed both free throws. The report made no mention of a slight shove by Shamet on Williams, deeming the contact insufficient. Overall, the Knicks went 1-of-6 from the free-throw line in the final 22 seconds, with Jalen Brunson splitting his attempts.
The loss extended Dallas' struggles, following recent defeats in double overtime to the LA Clippers, a late collapse against the Phoenix Suns, and blowing a 13-point fourth-quarter lead to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Mavericks played without rookie Cooper Flagg (illness), Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving, yet mounted a valiant effort. At 4-12, they sit two games behind 10th in the West and 6.5 games back of sixth place.