Allan Houston's clutch shooting forced overtime and Latrell Sprewell and Marcus Camby had big baskets in the extra session as the New York Knicks rallied for a 108-101 victory over the Mavericks, whose futility at Madison Square Garden continued.
Led by Dirk Nowitzki, the manic Mavericks blistered the Knicks for 64 points in the first half, then opened a nine-point lead early in the third quarter. But they shot just 14-of-55 after halftime and lost in New York for the 10th straight time.
"We don't mind high-scoring games because we're pretty good at it," Mavs coach Don Nelson said. "But we couldn't sustain it, for whatever reason.
 New York's Allan Houston avoids Dirk Nowitzki's reach. Nathaniel S. Butler NBAE/Getty Images |
Camby had 26 points and 13 rebounds, Sprewell scored 22 points and Houston added 19 for the Knicks, who had lost five of their last six home games but flashed some of the defense that has been their trademark over the last decade.
"We just tried to be the old Knicks," Houston said. "We couldn't trade baskets with them. We had to make it harder on them."
"Because of how they play -- they push it, shoot the long jumper -- I thought we did a good job in the second half of stepping up into people," said Knicks coach Don Chaney, who improved to 4-8 since replacing Jeff Van Gundy.
Overall, the Knicks limited Dallas -- the top-scoring team in the NBA -- to just 38 percent (37-of-97) from the field.
Despite a cold spell that included a 3-of-24 third quarter, Dallas still held a 92-89 lead with less than two minutes to go. But Kurt Thomas made a free throw and Houston made a jumper with 1:13 left, tying the game.
Greg Buckner, who scored nine of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, sank a baseline jumper with 59 seconds remaining. Houston responded with a pair of free throws 14 seconds later, then drew a charge on Nowitzki, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds.
Houston missed a drive and the Mavs rebounded with about four seconds to go.
Instead of calling timeout, Dallas dribbled upcourt and Buckner missed a 40-footer at the horn.
"We always look to push the ball, doesn't matter what time on the clock," Nowitzki said. "Maybe we thought we could get an easy three (3-pointer)."
Nothing came easy for Dallas, especially in overtime. Sprewell, scoreless in the fourth quarter, drilled a 3-pointer and a long jumper from nearly the identical spot to open the extra period. Camby, also scoreless in the fourth period, scored inside for a 101-94 lead with 3:05 to play.
"I was happy to see Marcus' game pick back up again," Chaney said. "We really need that from Marcus. Hopefully, he continues to play that way."
Nowitzki hit a jumper but missed an open shot on the next trip. From the low post, the 6-6 Houston made a turnaround jumper over the smaller Tim Hardaway for a 103-96 lead with 1:31 left.
"It doesn't matter who's guarding me; I'm going to attack," Houston said.
"I thought Allan hit some big shots," Chaney said. "He is one of those guys who wants to shoot the ball at the end of the game."
After a jumper by Steve Nash, Camby sealed it at 105-98 with 29 seconds to play by hammering home a lob from Mark Jackson, who had a season-high 17 assists.
Thomas scored 15 points and Shandon Anderson added 10 off the bench for the Knicks, who have not lost at home to Dallas since November 6, 1990.
Nash scored 19 points and Juwan Howard added 12 for the Mavs, whose winning streak was stopped one shy of the longest in franchise history, established in the 1987-88 season.
The Knicks had their best first half of the season, scoring 63 points. But they squandered a 13-point lead and trailed by one at the break as they could not contain Nowitzki, who scored 19 points.
The German 7-footer had a layup and a four-point play as Dallas opened the third period with eight straight points for a 72-63 lead. The last two came from the line as Othella Harrington and Sprewell were hit with technical fouls. New York appeared to be unraveling, as it often has under Chaney.
"I didn't want to come back in the locker room with the same feeling," Houston said. "We had a chance to do the same thing in the third quarter. It was getting bad. We were missing layups. But we came back fighting."
The Knicks tightened their defense and the Mavs went cold. Dallas made just one basket in the last 10 minutes of the period, which ended with New York holding an 81-77 advantage.
"We held in there," Chaney said. "Normally, we would fold. That was a good sign."
"Once they made shots, you gotta take the ball out of bounds," Nowitzki said. "They stopped our fast break great."