Mavericks continue to struggle but edge shorthanded Knicks in OT

There was Ewing Theory potential brewing in Dallas on Wednesday night.

The New York Knicks, playing without superstar Carmelo Anthony, were hanging tough with the league's best offense, not only slowing them down but rebounding well and scoring enough themselves to keep pace.

When J.R. Smith hit a shot to tie the game at 95 with 0.9 seconds left on the clock, the headlines almost wrote themselves: J.R. Smith is the hero Gotham needs right now.

Unfortunately, the Knicks just didn't have enough to keep matching punches with the Mavericks in overtime, and Dallas was able to halt their two-game skid with a 109-102 victory.

The Knicks seemed to run out of gas on offense, shooting just 3-of-9 in the extra frame and being forced to foul Dallas over and over in attempts to get the ball back and try again. Despite playing the hero late in the fourth, Smith actually finished 7-of-20 from the field for just 15 points. Jose Calderon added 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists, but otherwise the Knicks understandably struggled without one of the league's best scorers.

While it's a win for the Mavericks, they can't be walking away optimistic about their play of late. They've been steamrolling defenses and were due for some regression, but they've now lost to Houston without Dwight Howard and Patrick Beverely, lost to Indiana without Roy Hibbert and a host of others, and barely beat New York without Carmelo Anthony.

Hard times could continue Friday for both teams, as the Mavericks host the 13-2 Toronto Raptors and the Knicks visit the Oklahoma City Thunder, likely without Anthony once again.