Moral Victory? Mavs Fall To Spurs 99-93

The effort was certainly there on this night, but Gary Neal (14) and the Spurs were too much for the Nowitzki-less Mavs. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

Coming off possibly the ugliest loss of the season, largely due to the lack of sustained energy, next up was the San Antonio Spurs (28-4) who are off to the best start in franchise history. However, getting up to face the NBA's best team was no problem for the Dallas Mavericks (24-7), as this team hung tough against the hard charging Spurs throughout.

"It's a tough loss," Mavericks' coach Rick Carlisle said, "but we just have to keep battling."

Despite the loss, the mood in the locker room after the game was unexpectedly upbeat -- considering the Mavericks had just been beaten by a division-rival, in what was a close contest at times.

Dirk-Less Mavs Tumble Vs Raptors - 84-76

Ed Davis (32) had a career night, and Dallas had trouble scoring points - reverting to launching almost nothing but 3's in the fourth quarter - as Toronto snapped the Mavs' five-game winning streak. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

Coming off an emotional win against Oklahoma City, in which they beat and bullied the Thunder to take control of the game in the fourth quarter; the Dallas Mavericks (24-6) were beaten and bullied by a shorthanded and struggling Toronto Raptors (11-20) squad Tuesday night.

While the Mavericks' leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki had to miss the game due to a knee injury suffered Monday night, the Raptors were missing their own leading scorer in Andrea Bargnani (who averages just over 21 points per) and starting power forward Reggie Evans - who leads the team in rebounding at just over 12 per contest.

The Raptors, like Dallas, were also on the second night of a back-to-back -- having played the night before in Memphis -- so I think that takes care of all the would-be excuses for a Mavericks' team that collectively got their asses kicked.

"It was a disappointing loss, but I would credit Toronto more on their effort and how well they played," Mavericks' coach Rick Carlisle said. "They won the game. We didn't give it to them."

Fourth Quarter Stand - Mavericks 103 Thunder 93

With Dirk Nowitzki looking on from the locker room for most of the night due to injury, Shawn Marion (above, left) and the rest of the Mavericks picked up the slack - holding the Thunder to just 12 points in a dominant fourth quarter to pick up the win. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

Without injured superstar Dirk Nowitzki (who left early in the second quarter due to a right knee injury), the Dallas Mavericks (24-5) proved they're more than just a one-man show Monday night in Oklahoma City. Dallas showcased great depth and tenacious defense in dispatching the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-11), increasing their league-best road record to 11-1.

Kevin Durant broke out of his slump against Dallas with 28 points on the night, but the Mavericks used a strong fourth quarter, especially on the defensive end, to persevere without their injured MVP. A suffocating defense held the Thunder to only 4 of 18 shooting in the final frame and Dallas doubled-up OKC 24-12 for the quarter.

The anchor of the Mavs' defense, Tyson Chandler, closed out the game with a block, a rebound and a steal on Oklahoma City's final two possessions to finish off the Mavericks' 17th win in 18 contests.

"I knew this team was a defensive team. They have the record of 24-5 because they have a talented group of guys that play well," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.

Cardinals Take Cowboys Down A Peg - 27-26

Dallas couldn't overcome two pick 6's, one from Antonio Rogers-Cromartie (29) on the Cowboys' first possession, and kicker David Buehler's extra point went wide left as Arizona won on a last-second field goal. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

The Dallas Cowboys (5-10) are still a dumb and inefficient football team.

They may have tried to fool you the last couple of weeks with some strong play but, I assure you, it was all a mirage. Despite out-gaining the Arizona Cardinals (5-10) by over 110 yards and holding the ball for over 16 more minutes than the Cards, Dallas was beaten by a Jay Feely 48-yard field goal with only five seconds left in regulation.

Arizona drove 46 yards with less than 1:45 left in the contest and only one timeout, converting a 4th and 15 along the way against a Cowboys defense that is now ranked 31st in the NFL against the pass.

Dirk Tops Bird; Mavs Stop New-Look Magic 105-99

Dirk Nowitzki (above, left) passed Larry Bird for 25th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and the Mavericks took care of a retooled Magic squad for their 16th win in the last 17 contests. (AP Photo/Stephen M. Dowell - Orlando Sentinel)

Forget being on a streak, right now it's tough for any NBA team to look at the schedule and see the humming Dallas Mavericks (23-5) on the horizon.

Dallas took time out Tuesday evening from bustin' streaks to take care of a struggling Orlando Magic (16-12) team, who now have lost eight of their last nine contests. The Mavericks persevered through a third consecutive game with at least 19 points and 20 rebounds from Magic center Dwight Howard with (surprise) some smothering defense and a well-rounded offensive attack.

Caron Butler led six Mavs in double figures with 20 points, and Dallas shot an even 50 percent for the game (including an outstanding 46.2 percent from behind the arc) while holding the Magic to only 44 percent shooting.

"We feel like we're one of the best teams in the league, if not the best right now," Butler said. "We're playing great basketball, so we want to capitalize on every opportunity."

Orlando's newcomers, acquired in a couple of blockbuster trades earlier in the week, failed to make a positive impact on the contest.