The New York Knicks (25*-17) are gearing up for a pivotal stretch of games this week, facing the Mavs in a MLK Day matchup at home, followed by a crosstown clash on Wednesday night, and finishing with
a Saturday afternoon showdown. After dropping three straight, New York needs to regain some positive upward motion against a mix of rebuilding squads and Eastern Conference contenders. Let’s take a look at the schedule.
Mon, Jan. 19 vs. Mavericks (5:00 PM, NBC/Peacock)
On MLK Day, the Knicks return home looking to halt a three-game slide against a Dallas team deep into a post–Luka Dončić rebuild. The Mavericks sit at 17–26 near the bottom of the West after lucking into the Number One pick and anointing Cooper Flagg as their future.
The Knicks edged Dallas 113–111 when the teams last met on Nov. 19, surviving poor free-throw shooting and a cold start from three behind Jalen Brunson’s 28 points and late heroics from Landry Shamet. Jason Kidd’s group still defends, but the offense ranks among the league’s worst. Dallas will again be shorthanded: Daniel Gafford, D’Angelo Russell, and P.J. Washington are out, Anthony Davis remains sidelined, and Flagg is a game-time decision.
The Knicks must win to avoid mental meltdowns across the tri-state area. Watch it on NBC.
Wed, Jan. 21 vs. Nets (7:30 PM, MSG)
The crosstown rivalry is always hyped and often falls short of expectations.
The Brooklyn Nets have had a tough 2025-26 season so far, sitting near the bottom of the East. The rebuilding team clearly relies heavily on young talent and veterans like Michael Porter Jr. (leading scorer at almost 26 PPG), Nic Claxton, and Cam Thomas. Their January has been a mixed bag, with a comeback win and some close losses. They’ve lost eight of their last 10 (as of this writing), making them seem like an easy target for a Knicks win.
Watch it on MSG.
Sat, Jan. 24 at 76ers (3:00 PM, ABC)
The prospect of a matinee in Philadelphia has me reaching for Tums. The Sixers’ size and starry offense, led by Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid, demand respect. The Liberty Bells have compiled a solid record through mid-January, positioning them around the middle of the Eastern Conference pack. After a mixed start, the team has surged in January, fueled by Maxey’s MVP-caliber play (averaging around 28 PPG this month) and Embiid regaining form and confidence. With Edgecombe impressing in his debut season, plus contributions from Paul George and others, the Sixers boast a top-5 offense and defense in January. Despite recent narrow losses, they’re trending upward. You know they’ll be extra eager to defeat New York for the third time this season.
Watch it on ABC.
Go Knicks
* Should be one more, but the Cup final doesn’t count.
