The Mavericks found out they’d be without head coach Rick Carlisle on Friday night just a couple hours before tip-off of their game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Carlisle had an unexpected positive COVID test that will likely keep him from traveling to Washington D.C. with the team to take on the Wizards on Saturday. In his place, lead assistant Jamahl Mosley took over as head coach for the night and helped the Mavericks come away with a rugged 99-86 win over a gritty and tough Knicks team.

There was no shortage of happiness for the long-time member of the Dallas coaching staff after his big win.

Congrats to Coach Mosley on his first NBA win at the front of the bench 🙌 Had to celebrate BIG 💦💦💦 #MFFL pic.twitter.com/O8hy7609rF

— x – Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) April 3, 2021

YESSIR BIG DUB MOSE! https://t.co/HuSrtH4T7R

— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) April 3, 2021

Luka Doncic on Jamahl Mosley: “He’s got the things that are needed for a head coach. He can be the head coach, for sure.” https://t.co/lmy6gdV02i

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 3, 2021

Mosley has had multiple interviews for various head coaching opportunities over the last couple of seasons and he’ll likely get more this summer. This likely wasn’t his last win as a head coach in the NBA.

Noteworthy
Kristaps Porzingis struggled in his second game back in New York since the January 2019 trade that brought him to Dallas. Porzingis went for 16 points and 8 rebounds on just 6-17 shooting overall and just 1-7 from deep. KP’s first half was absolutely dreadful, but he had a strong second half to at least produce a respectable final stat line… Dallas’ 99 points in the win were the fewest points they’ve had in a win since their 87-78 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder back on March 3rd at the American Airlines Center… Both teams combined for just twenty free throws for the entire game. Dallas shot 5-10 while New York shot a perfect 10-10. The lack of free throws were definitely a contributor to the game’s lightning fast one hour and fifty-nine minute runtime… Jalen Brunson continued his outstanding season off the bench with an immaculate 15 point, 7 rebound and 5 assist performance. He was an insane +31 on the night… Luka Doncic was a little quieter than normal throughout the night, but still managed to end up with an impressive 26 point, 8 rebound, 7 assist performance. He also picked up his 11th technical foul on the season, just five short of the 16 required for a one game suspension.

After the win, the Mavs are now 26-21 and five games over .500 for the first time on the season. They’re also now four games clear of the Golden State Warriors at the dreaded 10th seed in the Western Conference playoff standings. The Warriors were destroyed 130-77 by the Raptors on Friday night.

Up next for Dallas is the 17-30 Washington Wizards at 6 PM on Saturday night.

Immaculate Vibes man. That is all. https://t.co/2MfqGJaJn8

— Jalen Brunson (@jalenbrunson1) April 3, 2021