Mavs gain footing in comeback win

Dallas got itself a mood-changing win at Madison Square Garden, with Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard combining for 70 points. Down seven points with just over two minutes to go, the Mavericks finally played with the desperation they've been missing to this point, aided by a level of Knicks' ineptitude that had yet be seen under Mike D'Antoni.
The Knicks will have to do their best to leave this game in the past, but Dallas needs to bottle the intensity it utilized to avoid its eighth loss in 10 games and start digging out of its hole. The Mavericks came out flat, with neither Erick Dampier nor DeSagana Diop able to stay with Zach Randolph, who is really working hard as New York's primary post option. He's run the floor, shot well from the perimeter and rebounded like a beast, so it took energy guys like James Singleton and Brandon Bass in order to turn the tide.
Carlisle went deep into the well and dusted off Jose Barea and Antoine Wright for key fourth quarter minutes, searching for the right formula to snap out of this current funk. Nowitzki, who deserved criticism for his role in the Mavericks' recent struggles, connected on huge shots over David Lee, while Howard and Bass provided the bounce necessary to overcome a lethargic start. With a morale-boosting win in hand, the Mavericks continue their three-game road trip in Charlotte on Tuesday before returning to Texas for Wednesday's nationally televised game in Houston.

Sunday's +/- report: Andrea Bargnani (0, 6-for-12) joining the starting lineup was the big news in Toronto, but it was the job Will Solomon (+3, 15 points, 11 assists) and Roko Ukic (+10, four assists) did in place of the injured Jose Calderon (hamstring) that made the difference in a 107-96 win over Miami. Jason Kapono(+2, 10 points), Kris Humphries (+9, 14 points, nine rebounds) and replaced starter Jamario Moon (+9, eight points, five rebounds) did a nice job providing energy off the bench... Shawn Marion (-5, eight points, four boards) doesn't resemble himself these days... Any time the Magic needed a big play, it seemed like Mickael Pietrus (+15, 18 points in 20:36) came up with it. Tony Battie (+3, nine points, seven rebounds) had his best game of the season helping replace Dwight Howard (+2) while he wrestled with foul trouble, scoring just four points in 26 mintues... Emeka Okafor (-6, eight points, nine boards) actually played less than Howard due to foul woes in the 90-85 loss... Roger Mason (+10, 18 points) continued to be invaluable for San Antonio, whose 90-88 win in Sacramento came despite a 31-point night from John Salmons (-1).