NBA Schedule 2019-20: 5 games with the most revenge potential

5. Dallas Mavericks at New York Knicks (Nov. 14)

One week before the February trade deadline, Kristaps Porzingis met with New York Knicks management and “left franchise officials with the impression that he want[ed] to be traded,” ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe, Ramona Shelburne and Ian Begley reported at the time.

There had been “a significant disconnect between Porzingis and Knicks management in recent years,” according to ESPN, which stemmed in part from “his frustration with the franchise’s losing, its past dysfunction and his own uncertainty over creating sustainable organizational success.”

Two years prior, Porzingis skipped exit meetings “due to frustration over what he perceives as the dysfunction and drama surrounding the organization,” Begley reported at the time. He was “frustrated with the Knicks’ lack of direction” under team president Phil Jackson, who later refused to rule out the possibility of trading Porzingis that offseason.

With that backdrop in mind, Porzingis’ first trip back to Madison Square Garden as a member of the Dallas Mavericks has major revenge-game potential.

Shortly after Porzingis’ contentious meeting with management in January, the Knicks sent him to the Mavericks for a package including Dennis Smith Jr. and two first-round picks. Porzingis has yet to suit up for the Mavericks, as he continues to recover from the torn ACL he suffered in February 2018, but that didn’t stop them from handing him a five-year, $158 million max contract extension this summer.

The 23-year-old hasn’t played competitive basketball for 18 months at this point, so he figures to be somewhat rusty when he returns to the court. But he’ll look to shake off those cobwebs by mid-November so he can put on a show during his first trip to Madison Square Garden as a member of an opposing team.