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The Mavericks aren’t in the playoffs for the first time since 2000, so we have to find something to fill the time this spring. Might as well keep up with the players from the Mavs’ title team who are scattered throughout the postseason. We’ll have daily updates as long as Mavs championship alums are still alive in the playoffs.

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ESPN.com senior NBA writer Marc Stein joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to touch on the storylines in the NBA playoffs and offer a Mavs perspective. Listen

Jason Terry: JET’s best work since signing with Boston has come since the Celtics’ backs were pinned against the wall.

Terry followed up his Game 4 overtime heroics with a 17-point, four-rebound, three-assist, no-turnover, multi-wing performance in the Celtics’ win over the Knicks that forced the series back to Boston. Terry’s 5-of-9 shooting from 3-point range was critical to the Celtics building a double-digit lead that was too large for the Knicks to overcome.

"I'm a 14-year veteran," Terry said on TNT moments after the win. "If you don't know who I am by now, you will after this series."

That was apparently in response to Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith, who was suspended for Game 4 because of an elbow that connected with Terry’s head and stunk it up in Game 5, claiming that he didn’t know who Terry was.

Of course, JET has always been one of the league’s best at jawing. Case in point: He repeatedly referenced the Red Sox’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit against the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, quoting “the great Kevin Millar” about the pressure shifting with a Game 5 win.

Jason Kidd: Mouthy sixth man Smith’s miserable performance got a lot of attention, but Kidd didn’t exactly bring much off the bench, either.

In fact, this ranked among the worst playoff performances of Kidd’s Hall of Fame career.

The 40-year-old went scoreless in 21 minutes, missing all four shot attempts. His only other stats: two rebounds, one block, one turnover and one foul. No assists. His plus-minus was a team-worst minus-14.

Tyson Chandler: Having chipped off rust and worked his way back into shape after a neck injury caused him to miss 16 of 20 games entering the playoffs, Chandler came up with a typical Chandler outing.

The big man had eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, 11 rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes. The Knicks were plus-8 with the 7-footer on the floor.

"I felt great," he said. "This game is probably the best I've felt. I felt lively, my legs felt good."

DeShawn Stevenson: Stevenson played a grand total of 16 seconds in the Hawks’ tie-breaking Game 5 loss to the Pacers. He did manage to get up a shot that he missed.

Ian Mahinmi: Mahinmi played only 9:27 in the Pacers’ win. He probably would have seen more minutes if he didn’t pick up five fouls. He finished with two points, two rebounds and a block.

The Mavericks aren’t in the playoffs for the first time since 2000, so we have to find something to fill the time this spring. Might as well keep up with the players from the Mavs’ title team who are scattered throughout the postseason. We’ll have daily updates as long as Mavs championship alums are still alive in the playoffs.

Jason Terry: We’ll just use an excerpt from ESPNBoston.com colleague Chris Forsberg’s column to sum up the vintage JET performance in his first playoff win since the title-clincher in Miami.

With the Celtics on the brink of being unceremoniously swept from the playoffs, Terry delivered a rarity this season: One of his familiar big-game efforts, scoring nine points in overtime as Boston held off New York 97-90 in Game 4 of the teams' first-round playoff series on Sunday at TD Garden.

The Knicks own a 3-1 series lead as the only things they put away Sunday were their brooms. Game 5 is Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

"I had every intention of trying to make an impact on the game, some way or another," said the 35-year-old Terry, who scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting with four assists over 41 minutes. One game after shuffling to a starting role to help with ballhandling, Terry returned to a bench spot and provided a much-needed spark, accounting for all but four points of Boston's reserve production.

"If I wasn't making shots, I wanted to get a steal, get a rebound, any little thing to keep it going," Terry said. "Again, I'm going to coach AAU, but I don't want to do that right now."

The quintessential Terry postseason performance was highlighted by the quintessential Terry shot. Sneaking out in transition in a tied game late in overtime, Terry found space as three Knicks defenders shaded toward Paul Pierce on the opposite wing. Jeff Green fed Terry, who pulled up in transition on the left side and splashed a 3-pointer -- his lone triple of the game -- before Jason Kidd could get out to contest.

The trifecta broke the game's final tie and Terry added a 13-foot fadeaway, two free throws (after craftily drawing a loose-ball foul call boxing out for a defensive rebound) and a layup before the final horn.

Terry's struggles this season have been well-documented. Celtics coach Doc Rivers had made Terry his first phone call when free agency opened in July and there was hope that the former Sixth Man of the Year would provide a long-missing bench spark for Boston, particularly after Ray Allen defected to the rival Heat.

But Terry, playing the first season of a three-year, $15.7 million contract, slumped throughout the regular season and straight into the playoffs. At times his defense eroded to the point that, unable to convert on the offensive end, he was a liability on the floor. He admits his trademark soaring jet celebration has been stuck in the hangar for much of the season.

Despite taxiing for much of the season, Terry picked a heck of a time to get off the tarmac.

"I've just been patient," he said. "As long as there's time on the clock, as long as there is another game, it's an opportunity for me to do something special. That's just the type of player I am. Whether I've made every shot or missed every shot, I have the same focus, the same confidence."

Tyson Chandler: Chandler scored five points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked one shot in 31 minutes. The Knicks were outscored by six with him on the floor.

Jason Kidd: Kidd was scoreless in 37 minutes during the Knicks’ overtime loss, going 0-for-3 from the floor. He grabbed nine rebounds, dished out two assists and committed two turnovers.

Corey Brewer: Brewer had 14 points on 3-of-9 shooting with one rebound and one steal in 29 minutes as his Nuggets were pushed to the brink of elimination by the Warriors.

The Mavericks aren’t in the playoffs for the first time since 2000, so we have to find something to fill the time this spring. Might as well keep up with the players from the Mavs’ title team who are scattered throughout the postseason. We’ll have daily updates as long as Mavs championship alums are still alive in the playoffs.

Jason Kidd: This was classic late-career Kidd. He didn’t post a spectacular line (eight points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals in 35 minutes), but he was a significant force during closing time in the Knicks’ win over Boston.

All three of his steals came in the final five minutes. On the first steal, the 40-year-old Kidd deflected a pass and outhustled 26-year-old Jeff Green by diving for a loose ball to spark a fast break. With 2:20 remaining and New York up five, Kidd diagnosed a play that’s a Celtics staple and helped from the weak side to strip Green under the basket. Kidd’s strip of Kevin Garnett on a mismatched post-up in the final minute essentially sealed the win.

“He beats everyone with his brain,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said at his postgame press conference. “If you think quicker than a guy can move, you’re still quicker. That’s why he’s there first, because he thought what the guy was going to do before he did it. He’s just a valuable player to have on a basketball team.”

Tyson Chandler: The fiery big man was a nonfactor in Game 1 against the Celtics after missing 16 of the Knicks’ final 20 regular-season games due to a neck injury. He had five rebounds and one steal in 20 scoreless minutes, and the Knicks opted to play Kenyon Martin at center instead of Chandler in crunch time.

"I knew I would be rusty. I knew I would be a little winded. I knew at some point my legs would get the best of me," Chandler said, according to ESPNNewYork.com. "I just wanted to be out there with my team."

Chandler said his neck didn’t bother him. He acknowledged that conditioning was a factor.

“I should obviously be much better in Game 2,” he said.

Jason Terry: For the first time in his career, Terry failed to score a point in a playoff game.

JET was 0-of-5 from the floor in 20 minutes. His only contributions to the Celtics were three rebounds and one steal. Meanwhile, Boston’s bench was outscored by a 33-4 margin.

"You don't get too high or down too low," Terry said, according to ESPNBoston.com. "It's a long series. If I bet on myself, I know how this is going to end up. I'm going to keep grinding, do the things necessary to win."

Corey Brewer: Brewer scored 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting in 21 minutes during Denver’s Game 1 win over the Warriors. He didn’t have any rebounds, assists, steals or blocks.

Caron Butler: Butler, who was sidelined by a serious knee injury during the Mavs’ title run, had a terrific Game 1 to help the Clippers blow out the Grizzlies. Butler scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and had a block and a steal in 24 minutes.

The Mavericks' D-League affiliate in Frisco announced Friday that former Mavs guard Delonte West is scheduled to finally play for the Texas Legends this weekend.

West, waived by the Mavericks in late October after a rocky training camp, committed to join the Legends in late January but didn't actually report to the team -- coached by former Mavs forward Eduardo Najera -- until this month.

The New York Knicks, according to league sources, are among the teams that will be monitoring West, who instantly becomes the most accomplished point guard in the NBA's developmental league and will be trying to earn a 10-day callup as quickly as possible.

The Legends play Saturday night at 7 p.m. against the Santa Cruz Warriors (Golden State's D-League affiliate) and Sunday at 3 p.m. against the Maine Red Claws (Boston's affiliate) at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco. Ticket information is available at 214-469-0822.

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks sure could have used a calm, cool, savvy clutch leader as the New York Knicks cut their lead from a dozen points down to one during the final six minutes.

“I try not to think about those things,” coach Rick Carlisle said with a wry smile after the Mavs managed to pull out a heart-pounding 114-111 win Wednesday night. “Which one are you talking about?”

Well, there was a familiar face wearing a funny, crooked headband and a blue No. 5 jersey who fit the bill.

Jason Kidd can call it just another game all he wants, but there’s no doubt he came to play in his return to the American Airlines Center, where his name hangs on a championship banner and the No. 2 he wore during his second stint in Dallas will too one day if Mark Cuban can get past the hurt feelings from the future Hall of Famer’s change-of-heart departure this summer.

Kidd mustered remarkable energy for a 39-year-old playing the butt end of a back-to-back, stuffing the box score with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals in 36 minutes. He willed the 8-2 Knicks to have a chance to win if Carmelo Anthony’s jumper with Shawn Marion in his face fell with seconds remaining.

“Tonight’s more proof of it: He’s one of the all-time greats,” Carlisle said. “Never underestimate greatness at any age.”

Yep, the remodeled Mavs sure could use a leader like that as their young guns try to learn to win, especially while Dirk Nowitzki rehabs from a knee scope expected to sideline him until mid-December. Having said that, Kidd’s exit was in the best interests of himself and both franchises impacted by his double-clutch free agency decision.

Kidd added a critical element to a team that appears to be a legitimate contender. The Mavs got one heck of a consolation prize that could possibly be a major part of the franchise’s future: O.J. Mayo.

The Mavs used their last bit of cap space -- room that wouldn’t have been available if Kidd returned, as Cuban says the Mavs still would have traded for point guard Darren Collison -- to sign Mayo to a one-year, $4 million deal with a player option for next season.

That contract has been one of the NBA’s best bargains so far this season, with Mayo the main reason the 7-6 Mavs are above water despite the absence of their only proven superstar. Mayo is performing like an All-Star, ranking sixth in the league in scoring at 22.9 points per game after his efficient 27-point performance helped key the Mavs’ victory over New York.

The five players scoring at a higher clip than Mayo -- Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony and James Harden -- all have long-term deals that pay them well into eight figures per season.

“I don’t want to talk him up too much because I don’t want him to opt out next year,” Cuban kidded before the game, a comment that made Mayo laugh heartily when it was relayed to him later.

At the moment, the only reason for Mavs fans not to fall in love with Mayo is the fear that he’ll be another one-and-done heartbreaker in Dallas, much like big man Tyson Chandler, who put up 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks on Wednesday night.

The difference is that Cuban feared locking into an aging core after the Mavs made their miraculous 2011 title run and the new, more restrictive collective bargaining agreement was written, while he’s hoping 25-year-olds Mayo and Collison prove themselves worthy of being paid this summer to stay in Dallas.

But that’s a discussion for several months from now.

All Mayo, a former No. 3 overall pick who arrived in Dallas humbled and hungry after a disappointing tenure in Memphis, is focused on at the moment is maximizing the chance the Mavs have given him to ignite his career.

“Even when I was on the bench, I was still grinding, hoping for an opportunity one day,” said Mayo, who was demoted by the Grizzlies to sixth man the last two seasons. “Hey, it’s here.”

The buzz before the game was all about Kidd being here.

The Mavs didn’t do anything special such as a tribute video to acknowledge Kidd’s return. (But maybe, just maybe the pregame song playlist that featured Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together” and Fun’s “We Are Young” might have been intended for his ears.)

The sellout crowd did give Kidd a nice ovation when his name was announced with the Knicks’ starting lineup, although he’d already made his way to middle of the team huddle and didn’t acknowledge the applause until after the game.

“I love Dallas,” Kidd said. “What we accomplished as a team will always be special to me, but now I’m in New York trying to accomplish that again. That’s to win another championship.”

Realistically, Kidd’s return wouldn’t have made the Mavs a title contender. They’re a long shot with Mayo, too, but at least there’s hope that the new kid can be part of the franchise’s foundation for years to come.

How it happened: Jason Kidd’s return to Dallas dominated the pregame hype, but Vince Carter is the NBA geezer folks left the American Airlines Center buzzing about.

Just barely. The Dallas Mavericks survived a 21-10 run by the New York Knicks over a span of five-plus minutes down the stretch to pull out the win.

The 35-year-old Carter keyed the Mavs' win over the Knicks with a turn-back-the-clock kind of performance. Carter poured in 14 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter.

Dallas' kiddie backcourt came up big, too, although the Mavs certainly could have used Kidd’s clutch savvy during crunch time.

Point guard Darren Collison, who has had a roller-coaster ride as Kidd’s replacement, had 19 points and seven assists. O.J. Mayo, whose Mavs tenure is off to a spectacular start, scored a team-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

Small forward Shawn Marion, the only 2011 title-team starter wearing home white in this game (with Kidd and Tyson Chandler wearing road blues), also deserves a lot of credit. With help, Marion hassled Knicks star Carmelo Anthony into a 7-of-16 shooting, seven-turnover night.

Anthony finished with 23 points, just shy of his season average, but he came up short on a potential go-ahead jumper with seconds remaining and Marion in his face.

What it means: The Mavs needed a win like this one. Heck, they needed any win after losing five of the previous seven games, but it’s especially sweet to beat the team with the NBA’s best record. The victory boosts the 7-6 Mavs’ record above .500 again while dropping the Knicks to 8-2. Closing out a team of the Knicks’ quality could be a huge confidence boost to the remodeled Mavs.

Play of the game: It wasn’t quite vintage Vinsanity -- because he didn’t finish with a high-flying, highlight-reel flush -- but Carter’s baseline drive for an and-1 bucket was a thing of beauty. He blew by fellow '90s draft product Kidd and got hacked by J.R. Smith before finishing the reverse layup. The free throw stretched the Mavs’ lead to seven with 9:43 remaining.

Stat of the night: Kidd had a 17-point, 6-rebound, 5-assist, 5-steal night. His points total exceeded his 2011-12 season high by two. That 15-point outing coincidentally came in the Knicks' trip to Dallas last season.

DALLAS – The Mavericks’ soft stretch of the schedule is over. Here come Carmelo Anthony’s mighty New York Knicks.

Anthony lit up the Mavs for 31 points in the Knicks’ Nov. 9 win over the Mavs at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks present plenty of concerns, but they start with containing Anthony, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer at 24.2 points per game.

“Right now, he might be the best player in the game if you look at their record, the stats that he’s putting up and all that kind of stuff,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s going to be an MVP candidate for sure.”

The Mavs didn’t have defensive stopper Shawn Marion for the previous meeting with the Knicks. Rookie Jae Crowder got the start and a rough lesson that night. The Mavs hope Marion’s experience and ability can make a difference.

“We’ve got to guard him better as a team,” Carlisle said. “Our position wasn’t good last game. Our individual position wasn’t what it needed to be. Consequently, our help couldn’t get there.”

Records: Mavs (6-6); Knicks (8-1)

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: American Airlines Center

TV: FSSW

Radio: ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1270 AM (Spanish)

What to watch: Will the Mavs get their butts kicked on the boards again? Carlisle has been ranting about rebounding since the preseason. He was especially strong about it after the Warriors had a 62-43 rebounding edge in Golden State’s win over the Mavs on Monday night. The Mavs actually outrebounded the Knicks, 50-43, earlier this month. They’ll probably have to do that again to have a legitimate chance to beat the team with the NBA’s best record.

Key matchup: O.J. Mayo vs. Jason Kidd: The crafty Kidd is likely to at least start the night defending the NBA’s seventh-leading scorer. Mayo got off to a hot start at Madison Square Garden, but he cooled off considerably after getting in early foul trouble, finishing with 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting and committing a season-high eight turnovers. The crafty Kidd caused some of Mayo’s issues that game, including drawing a charge that was Mayo’s third foul early in the second quarter.

Injuries: Mavs – PF Dirk Nowitzki (knee) is out. Knicks – PF Amar’e Stoudemire (knee) and G Iman Shumpert (knee) are out.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

DALLAS -- If you've got hard feelings for Jason Kidd due to his sloppy exit from Dallas, get over them.

Jason Kidd could've handled his departure from Dallas better, but his role in the Mavs' 2011 title run should earn him a free pass.

That goes for Mark Cuban and every other Dallas Mavericks fan.

Get off your butts and give the man the standing ovation he deserves when the New York Knicks' starting lineup is announced Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center.

There wouldn't be an NBA championship banner in the rafters without Kidd. His clutch savvy and steady leadership were critical elements to the Mavericks' miraculous 2011 title run. Folks around these parts should forever treat Kidd like a hero, not a traitor -- at least when the sneakers aren't squeaking.

Kidd finished the job during his second stint in Dallas. So what if he didn't finish his surefire Hall of Fame career here?

"He left on great terms with me," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "I was super appreciative of everything he did for me and our organization when he was here. Guys at that point in their career, they have the right to do what they want to do. I could only wish him the best."

To read the rest of this column, click here.

The schedule-makers did the Mavericks a solid this week. Each of their opponents will be playing the butt end of a back-to-back during this homestand.

A quick look at the Mavs’ schedule this week:

Golden State Warriors (7:30 p.m. Monday, American Airlines Center): The 5-5 Warriors are coming off a 119-109 loss in Oklahoma City, when guard Stephen Curry had 22 points and six assists. Curry hasn’t shot the ball very well this season, but he’s a threat to go off against any team, much less one that tends to allow too much dribble penetration. Power forward David Lee could present problems for Elton Brand with his quickness and athleticism. Lee has double-doubles in five of the last six games, with an 18-point, nine-rebound performance the exception.

New York Knicks (7:30 p.m. Wednesday, American Airlines Center): The Knicks have a stop in New Orleans on Tuesday before traveling to Dallas. Jason Kidd will be making his return to the AAC, and it’s difficult to argue with his decision to jump to the Knicks considering their 7-1 record. Carmelo Anthony lit it up for 31 points in the Knicks’ Nov. 9 win over the Mavs at Madison Square Garden. He’ll have to deal with Shawn Marion defending him in this meeting.

Los Angeles Lakers (7:30 p.m. Saturday, American Airlines Center): This will be the fourth game in five nights for the Lakers, who face the Grizzlies in Memphis on Friday night. Even without Steve Nash, whose return date is uncertain, the Lakers have started to resemble the juggernaut they were expected to be. They’ve rebounded from a 1-4 start to win four of their last five games, with a two-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs the lone setback. They’ve scored 114 and 119 points in the last two games. Their two superstars are doing their parts. Kobe Bryant leads the NBA with 26.4 points per game. Dwight Howard averages 20.0 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks.

NEW YORK -- Tyson Chandler believes the Mavericks could have repeated as champions if the team’s core wasn’t blown up before last season, a take Mark Cuban responded to with what he does best: sarcasm.

“T.C.’s a smart guy,” Cuban said while entertaining the Big Apple media horde before Friday night’s game at Madison Square Garden. “I’m sure he’ll have a future as a general manager.”

Chandler got the last word, at least in the Knicks’ win over the Mavericks.

The athletic big man’s putback, and-1 slam pretty much put the exclamation point on the Knicks’ win. After a Carmelo Anthony miss in traffic, Chandler soared above the crowd to snatch the ball and throw it down hard with two hands despite being hacked by Jae Crowder.

Chandler followed that play, which pushed the Knicks’ lead to 10 points midway through the fourth quarter, by pounding his chest and screaming. If Cuban was still booing Chandler and fellow Mavs champion-turned-Knick Jason Kidd, it was drowned out by the deafening roars of the sellout crowd.

“I enjoy his boos,” Chandler told reporters. “I enjoy all those antics and anything else that he wants to do.”

As Mavs fans know, Chandler’s impact can’t just be measured by his line in the box score, although 11 points and nine rebounds aren’t bad. His defensive presence, especially in pick-and-roll situations, had a lot to do with the Mavs’ miserable second half, when Dallas scored 37 points on 35.1 percent shooting and committed 13 turnovers. The Knicks outscored the Mavs by 14 in Chandler’s 30 minutes on the floor.

And then there are the intangibles.

“When he’s healthy, he’s a difference maker,” Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. “He was huge for us in the one year that we had him. He’s really turned this (Knicks) franchise around with his enthusiasm and exuberance, not to mention his abilities on the court. He’s one of the reason they’re a contender.”

Chandler was also a big reason the Mavs left New York with a loss.

A few more notes from the Mavs’ second loss of the season:

1. Missing Matrix: This had to be hard for Shawn Marion to watch from home while he nurses the sprained MCL in his left knee that will sideline him until at least next week.

The Mavs couldn’t stop Anthony, who scored 31 points on 10-of-22 shooting. Anthony has also had some big nights against Marion over the years, but the Matrix got the best of Melo the two times they’ve both been healthy for Mavs-Knicks meetings. Anthony scored a total of only 24 points on 7-of-27 shooting in those two games, both Mavs wins.

Anthony did a lot of his damage against Crowder and Dahntay Jones, both 6-foot-6, with his back to the basket. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Anthony was 5-of-8 from the floor against post-ups, something the 6-foot-7, long-armed Marion would be better equipped to defend.

Crowder, the second-round steal, really looked like a rookie for the first time against the Knicks. He had seven points, five fouls, four turnovers and three rebounds in 30 minutes.

“Having Trix out really hurt us,” Mavs center Chris Kaman said. “He’s a good-sized 3 man. He can guard some of those guys at the 3. It’s unfortunate that he’s injured, but it’s also part of basketball. Hopefully he’ll be able to get back soon.”

2. Carter hurts hip: Vince Carter started limping before his pretty fadeaway even hit the net in the final minute of the third quarter.

“When I did the stepback and I went to push off, I felt just a pull and a pop,” Carter said. “It tightened up instantly. It felt kind of weird.”

Carter, who faded away to avoid a collision with fellow NBA geezer Kidd, left the game during the next dead ball. He returned later and finished with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting and expects to be available for the butt end of the back-to-back Saturday in Charlotte, although he’s a bit concerned about how his hip will feel when he wakes up.

“I’m planning on playing,” Carter said. “I don’t care what they say. We’re already down some bodies. Gotta go.”

3. Roddy B. returns: Backup guard Rodrigue Beaubois had five points on 2-of-7 shooting, three rebounds, an assist and a steal in his return after a three-game absence due to a sprained ankle.

“We’re glad that he got out on the court and was able to be effective at times and get some of his conditioning back,” Carlisle said. “It’s going to be a process getting him back to 100 percent.”

NEW YORK -- Blame this loss on the backcourt that had been such a bright spot during the Dallas Mavericks’ surprising start.

Put it on the pair of 25-year-olds who had played so phenomenally well during the Mavs’ 4-1 start that folks started buzzing about Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo possibly being foundation pieces for the franchise’s future.

They all but wrestled each other in the Madison Square Garden visitors’ locker room for the biggest share of accountability after the Mavs’ 104-94 loss Friday to the undefeated New York Knicks.

“I’m really, really disappointed in my performance tonight,” said Collison, who had as many turnovers as points (four) and was 1-of-8 from the floor. “I promise you that I’ll be in full-mode attack next game. I felt like I let my team down tonight.”

Give Collison credit for manning up after his first poor performance as a Maverick. However, Mayo didn’t want to hear that this loss was all Collison’s fault.

“No way,” Mayo said. “I think it’s on me, too.”

His point is well taken, too. Mayo led the Mavs with 23 points, but the eight turnovers he committed were killers.

It’s hard to beat a good team, especially on the road, when you commit 20 turnovers. The Mavs’ starting guards know it’s unacceptable for them to combine for 12 of those.

“Some of them were just bonehead mistakes,” said Mayo, who cooled off when he got into foul trouble after a scorching start. “Like, when I have two fouls and (Jason) Kidd steps over and takes a charge, double-dribbling in the backcourt, get in traffic and try to make a pass when I probably had the shot. Just some bonehead things.”

Mayo put the Mavs on his back early in the game, scoring 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting (4-of-6 from 3-point range) in the first half despite sitting the final 8:56 of the second quarter due to foul trouble. He never regained his rhythm after halftime, missing six of eight shots from the floor in the second half.

Collison, on the other hand, just never got going as a scorer. Matched up with Raymond Felton, not the future Hall of Fame point guard Collison replaced, Collison finished with eight assists but didn’t get a bucket until the final minute after the outcome had been decided.

“We just made a lot of mistakes as a team, so his 1-for-8 shows up and everybody’s looking at it because he’s been scoring points, but his job isn’t necessarily to score points every night,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “It’s to run the team and be efficient. We struggled in a lot of areas tonight. He had a rough game.”

Added Collison, who had scored in double figures in the previous five games: “It starts with me. It absolutely starts with the point guard. I’ll make sure my performance is better than it was tonight so we get this thing rolling.”

Honestly, a Mavs win would have been a major upset, especially with the only two contributors from the 2011 title team who remain on the roster watching from home while nursing sore knees.

But Collison and Mayo weren’t interested in discussing how much of a difference Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion might have made. They looked forward to getting on the team flight and watching the film, dissecting what they did wrong in a game they felt they should have won.

How it happened: The Mavs cooled off after a first-half shootout between two of the NBA’s highest-scoring teams. The Knicks kept filling it up.

The Mavs went ice cold in the fourth quarter, when they scored only 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting. That included a scoreless span of 4:06, when the Knicks scored eight points to essentially put the game away.

Carmelo Anthony scored 31 points to lead the Knicks, serving as a closer with nine of those points in the final frame.

But the Knicks had a critical spurt after their superstar went to the bench following his fourth foul midway through the third quarter. New York sixth man J.R. Smith had nine of his 22 points during the 11-5 run that stretched the Knicks’ lead to seven.

Shooting guard O.J. Mayo, who has performed like a star while Dirk Nowitzki recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery, continued to shoot the lights out from 3-point range. Mayo had 23 points, making five of 10 3-point attempts, but he was plagued by foul trouble throughout the game.

The Knicks didn't allow Dallas point guard Darren Collison to get going. Collison, who entered the night averaging 16.2 points per game, scored only four and didn't have a field goal until the final minute.

What it means: The undefeated Knicks ended the Mavs’ three-game winning streak. The Mavs were pretty competitive against a playoff-caliber team despite missing Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, but they’re 1-2 on the road entering Saturday’s trip to Charlotte.

Play of the game: Maybe Tyson Chandler’s ferocious, and-1 putback slam brought back fond memories for Mavs fans. It dealt a serious blow to the Mavs’ comeback hopes, stretching the Knicks’ lead to 10 with 6:08 remaining. After Anthony missed a reverse layup in heavy traffic, Chandler rose above the crowd to grab the rebound with two hands and throw it home despite contact from Jae Crowder. Chandler, showing the spirit that made him the emotional leader of the championship Mavs, celebrated by pounding his chest and hollering to the crowd.

Stat of the night: Collison and Mayo combined for 12 turnovers. They didn’t have any in Wednesday’s win over the Toronto Raptors.

NEW YORK -- Mark Cuban doesn’t plan to exchange any handshakes or man hugs with Jason Kidd on Friday night, the first time the Mavericks owner will see his former point guard since Kidd’s decision to leave Dallas for the Knicks.

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“I’m going to boo the hell out of him and hope he has about 15 turnovers,” Cuban said with a laugh.

But Cuban insists that he doesn’t have any lingering bitterness toward Kidd, who verbally committed to re-signing with the Mavs only to change his mind the same day, opting to take a similar offer from the Knicks.

“I’m past it,” Cuban said. “What’s done is done.”

Cuban vented this summer on ESPN Dallas 103.3’s “Ben and Skin Show,” admitting his feelings were hurt by the way Kidd’s decision went down and declaring that his No. 2 would never hang from the American Airlines Center rafters.

Pressed by the New York media Friday evening, Cuban declined to elaborate on those comments. Nor did he retract them.

“You know what I said,” Cuban said. “I said it. It’s over. Next.”

After a follow-up question, Cuban added, “It’s not even worth thinking about. He plays for the Knicks. I don’t care about the Knicks, other than we want to beat their ass, like we do every other team. Other than that, any guy who wears another team’s jersey, that’s what they do -- wear another team’s jersey.”

Cuban did say that he still thought Kidd was a good guy and will keep him on his Christmas card list.

NEW YORK – This should be a fun Friday night of basketball.

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It’d be better if the Mavs had as many (or any) starters from their 2011 title team as the Knicks do. However, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion will stay home to nurse their knees, while Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd wear the Knicks’ blue and orange.

Nevertheless, two of the NBA’s most explosive teams so far this season will meet at Madison Square Garden.

The surprising Mavs, with 25-year-old guards Darren Collison and O.J. Mayo playing starring roles, rank second in the NBA in scoring with 108.4 points per game. The Knicks, led by Carmelo Anthony, rank third with 104.7 points per game.

The Mavs and Knicks are the NBA’s top two 3-point-shooting teams so far. The Mavs have shot 48.5 percent from behind the arc and have made 50 3-pointers. The Knicks set an NBA record for 3-pointers made in the first three games of a season with 43 and are shooting 43.5 percent from long range.

An argument can be made that the Mavs’ success has been fools’ gold, as the four teams Dallas has defeated have a combined record of 5-13. The Mavs can quiet that talk against the undefeated Knicks, whom Rick Carlisle is referring to as a legitimate championship contender.

With former Mavs center Tyson Chandler serving as the backbone, the Knicks lead the NBA in scoring defense (85.3 points per game) and average point differential (19.4).

Records: Mavs (4-1); Knicks (3-0)

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Madison Square Garden

TV: FSSW

Radio: ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1270 AM (Spanish)

What to watch: Can the Mavs keep running? They’ve gone from one of the league’s least efficient transition teams last season to one of the best so far this season. According to ESPN Stats and Information, the Mavs are one of six teams in the NBA with at least 80 transition plays and are averaging 1.2 points on those possessions. The Mavs averaged 1.06 points per transition possession last season, which ranked 29th in the NBA.

Key matchup: Tyson Chandler vs. Chris Kaman – It’s a matchup of the big man Mavs fans hated to see leave and the big man they’ve recently welcomed with open arms. Kaman was outstanding offensively in his first few games as a Mav, averaging 18 points on 70.6 percent shooting. Chandler, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, will be by far Kaman’s biggest challenge. Chandler continues to be a remarkably efficient complementary offensive piece, leading the NBA in field goal percentage (.679) last season and improving that clip slightly so far this year. Chandler has held Kaman to an average of 10.2 points on 38.8 percent shooting in 13 career meetings, eight of which were won by Chandler’s team.

Injuries: Mavs – PF Dirk Nowitzki (knee) and F Shawn Marion (knee) are out. G Rodrigue Beaubois (ankle) is questionable. Knicks – PF Amar’e Stoudemire (knee) and G Iman Shumpert (knee) are out.

Up next: at Charlotte Bobcats, 6:30 p.m., Saturday

GREENBURGH -- Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler want to make one thing clear: they're both happy to be playing for the Knicks this season.

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But Kidd and Chandler, both ex-Mavericks, believe that they could have done something special in Dallas if they decided to stay with Mark Cuban's club.

"I'm very happy with this situation, but to speak past tense I definitely think that we had an opportunity to go back-to-back and unfortunately things were blown up," Chandler said on Thursday. "But that's the business side of it; that's something the players can't control."

Chandler came to New York last year in a sign-and-trade that caught many off guard. Most initially believed the Mavericks would retain the free agent center, but they let him walk without making a competitive offer in part because they were gearing up to make a bid for big-name free agent last summer.

They didn't end up landing one, as Deron Williams re-signed with Brooklyn and Dwight Howard ended up in Los Angeles.

"I'm very happy with this situation," Chandler said on Thursday.

Jason Kidd was also expected to re-sign with Dallas.

He was reportedly prepared to sign a three-year, $9 million deal with the Mavs before backing out the next morning to accept essentially the same deal with the Knicks.

Cuban was livid with Kidd's decision.

"I was more than upset. I thought he was coming. I was pissed," Cuban said in late August. "J-Kidd is a big boy; he can do whatever he wants. But you don't change your mind like that. That was ... yeah. I'm sure I'll get over it at some point, but as of now, I wouldn't put J-Kidd's number in the rafters.

"It hurt my feelings, period, because I felt that we had developed a relationship, and I thought that he was committed to the organization. It sure seemed that he was. I mean, J-Kidd was active in going out there and talking to Deron Williams the whole time. I guess it was more shocking and surprising than anything else."

Kidd took Cuban's shot in stride.

"I don’t play for the jersey. I play for my teammates," he said earlier this week. "Cuban owns the team so he has every right to his opinion, but the one thing he can’t take away is a championship ring."

On Thursday, Kidd talked about the possibility of the Mavs repeating as champs last season had Chandler returned.

"You never know. In a shortened season anything is possible," he said. "That group of guys that we had was very special. If you asked every one they would have loved to keep that team together. But again, business gets in the way sometimes of a good thing and we didn’t have that opportunity.”