The New York Knicks' alarming midseason slump sank to a new low Monday, as they were soundly booed off their home court during a 114-97 Martin Luther King Jr. Day blowout loss to the struggling Dallas Mavericks at Madison Square Garden.

The boos, which first erupted in the second quarter as Dallas built an 18-point lead, marked the second time in three home games the frustrated faithful have voiced their displeasure. The Knicks have now lost nine of their last eleven games, plummeting from a 23-9 start to a 25-18 record that has them closer to 11th place in the East than to the conference leaders.

After the game, star guard Jalen Brunson, who shot 9-of-22 for 22 points, offered no defense for the team's performance. "I'd be booing us too," Brunson said bluntly. "Straight up."

All-Star forward Karl-Anthony Towns, who posted 22 points and 18 rebounds but also committed five turnovers, empathized with the paying customers. "You come, you spend... money that you've saved up to bring your family to this game and for us to come here and obviously, not only [not] win — which is disappointing — but not really have a chance," Towns said. "I'd be disappointed, too."

The loss drops the Knicks to third in the Eastern Conference, now 1.5 games behind the rival Boston Celtics. With the trade deadline approaching, the team's recent form has transformed early-season optimism into urgent concern, leaving its stars to acknowledge a performance wholly unworthy of the Garden's stage.