Knicks Corral Mavs In 2 OT

Two miracle shots were enough, so the Knicks didn't let the Mavericks attempt a third.

After watching Dallas tie the game with last-second shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime, New York committed a strategic intentional foul to make sure it didn't happen again.

Allan Houston fouled Michael Finley with 0.8 seconds left in the second overtime, preventing the Mavericks from attempting a game-tying 3-pointer as the Knicks beat Dallas 96-93 Wednesday night.

"It was a huge win for us, actually, since I understand Milwaukee and Philly lost," Houston said. "This was a game where we could have been deflated by those shots, but Jeff (Van Gundy) kept saying 'Put it behind you.'

"We really wanted this game going into the (All-Star) break, and we refused to let those shots get us down."

The Knicks improved to 5-0 in overtime games, but only after Finley tied the game with an off-balance 15-footer at the buzzer in regulation and Howard Eisley made a 3-pointer with one second left to send it to double-overtime.

Finley had 21 points to lead the Mavericks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time in 26 games this season in which they took a lead into the fourth quarter.

"You saw us as what we are - cardiac kids, push it to the wire and get into these overtime situations," acting Mavericks head coach Donn Nelson said. "We just weren't able to close it."

Houston hian 8-footer with 47 seconds left in the second overtime to tie it, and Sprewell then picked off an errant pass by Finley and was fouled driving to the bucket. His two foul shots gave New York a 95-93 lead with 23.9 seconds left.

The Mavericks then got the ball to Finley in the left corner, and his jumper over Glen Rice barely scraped the rim. Sprewell was fouled and hit just one of two free throws with 5.9 seconds left, leaving the score 96-93 and giving the Mavs one last chance.

Dallas got the ball into Finley's hands, and Houston grabbed him around the waist just past midcourt with 0.8 seconds left.

"We're up three, so rather than give them a clear shot at a 3-pointer we make them shoot some free throws," Houston said. "We were fortunate that a lot of time came off the clock, because they didn't have much time. They held the ball for a couple of seconds before seeing Finley at halfcourt, so that cost them."

Finley missed the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, and the Knicks inbounded cleanly to run out the clock.

Dallas owner Mark Cuban, making his first visit to Madison Square Garden, jumped onto the scorer's table and rolled around gleefully on his back after Finley sent it to overtime.

Cuban's response was enthusiastic but a bit more subdued after Eisley hit his 3-pointer in the first overtime. After Dallas lost, however, he walked off hanging his head.

"I'll remember the fun of the game itself, and I'll wonder why they kept announcing the score. People in New York, can't they read numbers?" Cuban asked. "It was a special experience, I was excited to come here and it was worth every minute of it."

The Knicks trailed for much of the fourth quarter, but Larry Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left to tie it at 78. Eisley missed for Dallas at the other end, and Houston hit a 6-footer with 8.6 seconds left to give the Knicks a two-point lead.

Dirk Nowitzki missed a 12-footer with the clock running out, but the ball went out of bounds off New York with 0.6 seconds left to give Finley the chance to tie it.

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