PREVIEW: The New York Knicks travel to Dallas as the league's sixth-ranked scoring offense, boasting elite defensive rebounding that ranks first overall and efficient three-point shooting at third. Their defensive profile shows some vulnerabilities, particularly in limiting three-point attempts from opponents who shoot at a 45.7% clip from distance. Meanwhile, the Mavericks rank near the bottom defensively, allowing significant attacks at the rim and struggling with an inefficient free throw rate at 73.2%. Dallas does excel at limiting three-point volume on defense with just a 37.2% rate, the second-best mark in the association. The Knicks enter as 5.5-point favorites with a total set at 228.5 points. New York arrives in Texas riding an unfortunate road skid, having dropped four consecutive games away from home. Karl-Anthony Towns anchors the Knicks' attack, averaging 24.4 points while shooting over 52% from the field, and the team has actually improved their offensive efficiency to 122.2 in their last two games despite missing point guard Jalen Brunson to injury. Dallas counters with a dire situation of their own, having lost 16 of their last 22 outings. The Mavericks showed brief life with an overtime victory against Portland on Monday before getting demolished by Minnesota 120-96 the following evening.