Mavericks 110, Knicks 108
Dirk Nowitzki hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer as Dallas escaped with a win over host New York.
Nowitzki took a pass from Jose Calderon at the top of the key and, with
Carmelo Anthony in his face, lofted a shot that rimmed out before glancing off the glass and falling through. Vince Carter scored a season-high 23 points, including seven 3-pointers, while Monta Ellis had 22 and Calderon added 20 to help Dallas win its third straight and improve to 9-2 in February.
Anthony paced the Knicks with 44 points, including seven 3-pointers. J.R. Smith added 15 points and seven assists and Tyson Chandler scored 12 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for New York, which lost its third consecutive game.
Dallas led 84-76 late in the third quarter before six straight points from Anthony sent the Knicks into the fourth trailing by just two. The Mavericks gradually increased the gap and led 108-100 with 1:37 remaining until a 3-pointer from Anthony capped an 8-0 surge to tie the game with 50.3 seconds to play.
The Mavericks built a 31-21 edge after the opening quarter, led by nine points from Carter, as the Knicks committed nine turnovers. A 17-5 run pulled New York to within a single point and the Knicks took a brief 59-57 lead as Anthony scored 17 points in the frame, but a 3-pointer from Ellis at the buzzer sent Dallas into the locker room with a 60-59 halftime lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Dallas has prevailed in six of its last eight trips to Madison Square Garden. ... The teams combined to take 69 3-point attempts, with New York converting 14-of-33 and the Mavericks making 15-of-36. ... Dallas was outrebounded 41-34, falling short on the glass for just the second time in its last 10 games.