NEW YORK - As the Mavericks' bus turned right from Eighth Ave. onto West 33rd, there it was, extra-large, in bright LED, on Madison Square Garden's façade.
The larger-than-life action photo of rookie Luka Doncic, below the words "Marquee Matchup," loomed as the Broadway-style billboard headliner, above the fact the Knicks were hosting Dallas.
No doubt about it, Doncic making his Garden debut was the featured attraction, but by the second quarter of Dallas' 114-90 victory it was clear that Wednesday night mostly would be a long, heartfelt goodbye to a 40-year-old Mavericks legend.
Dirk Nowitzki.