Somehow Dallas coughed up a seven-point lead with 1:13 remaining against a New Orleans Hornets team without Chris Paul to lose 93-92. Coach Rick Carlisle simply said his team was “soft” afterward, which seemed to anger his players.

"I wouldn't go that far," said center Tyson Chandler, who returned from a sprained right ankle with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

"Who said that?" Jason Terry said. "I'm not soft, not me. I don't know where that comes from, but we ain't soft. We have to see how he meant soft in that aspect, but I know he wasn't talking to me personally or any of my teammates because I don't think none of these guys are soft."

The Mavs may be shorthanded against the Knicks as Shawn Marion suffered bruised ribs against the Hornets. X-rays were negative, but Marion is uncertain if he'll be able to play. Midway through the third quarter against the Hornets, Marion crashed into a cameraman along the baseline while going up for a breakaway layup. Hornets forward Marco Belinelli pushed Marion from behind and sent him flailing. Marion started in place of Peja Stojakovic, who was scratched with a stiff neck. His availability tonight is also in question, which could leave the Mavs without their top two small forwards.

Other than against the Cavaliers, the Knicks have been much improved since Carmelo Anthony joined the team and enter on a three-game winning streak. On Wednesday night in Memphis, Anthony's 19-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds left beat the Grizzlies 110-108. The Knicks are 6-3 since the trade that brought Anthony and Chauncey Billups to New York. Billups missed his fifth straight game with a left quad injury on Wednesday and won’t play tonight.

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