The Dallas Mavericks used a career-high showing from Max Christie to blowout the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
On the same day that the NBA All-Star Game starting lineups were announced, Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie made his pitch for why he should receive an invite to All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles - to compete in the 3-Point Contest at the famed Saturday night festivities before the big game.
Christie took center stage at historic Madison Square Garden on Monday knocking down a career-high eight three-pointers as the Mavs crushed the New York Knicks 114-97.
The game drew an afternoon ticket in a full slate of action on NBC to celebrate MLK Day. Dallas' appearance at "The Mecca" was against a Knicks franchise that has played on each of the last 40 MLK Days since the NBA began annually scheduling games on the holiday.
Christie was on fire early and often, hitting six triples in the first half, which set a new personal best for any game. As a team, the Mavericks ripped the nets for 15 triples on 47 percent accuracy.
The long-range marksmanship built a first-half lead as large as 30, a run that embodies this recent stretch of the most impressive offensive production of the season for Dallas.
In the Mavs' last two games - both blowout wins over the Utah Jazz - they connected on 19 and 18 three-pointers, respectively, which are the top two marks on the entire season.
Christie's explosion isn't an anomaly, either. He's among the most efficient three-point shooters in the NBA at over 44 percent on 5.4 attempts per game entering the week.
The fourth-year guard has often said that he and head coach Jason Kidd have had discussions about getting up more three-pointers each game, and Monday's barrage is the proof that the Mavs are getting into a rhythm shooting at this volume.
Christie spoke with our own Grant Afseth about what it would mean to receive an invite to the 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend.
“That would be sick,” Christie said to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “That would be a dream come true if I got invited to be a part of that, so I definitely wouldn’t turn it down.
"Either way, I’m just happy to be shooting it as well as I am right now. It’d be a great bonus to be in the three-point contest, but if not, I’m still grateful for the year I’m having so far."
Christie is averaging 12.5 points per game and has seen more looks in the starting lineup as of late because of number of injuries Dallas has faced.
Klay Thompson, who's also been on a heater from distance recently, tallied four more triples against New York for 14 total points. In the two games against Utah, Thompson surpassed 17,000 career points and moved into fourth all-time in made threes.
Cooper Flagg, making his debut at MSG, returned from a two-game absence with a sprained ankle and scored 18 points. The ever-so-reliable Naji Marshall added 19 and eight rebounds. Off the bench, two-way point guard Ryan Nembhard dished out a team-high five assists.
The Mavericks' next game is back at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Jan. 22 to host the Golden State Warriors and three-point record-holder Stephen Curry, who was named a starter for the Western Conference in his 12th career All-Star selection.
