(Sports Network) - A stiff test awaits Carmelo Anthony and his New York Knicks on Thursday in the form of Western Conference heavyweight Dallas.
The Knicks have started to come on since the blockbuster trade that brought both Anthony and Chauncey Billups over from Denver, winning their third straight game in Memphis on Wednesday when 'Melo buried a long jump shot with 0.5 seconds remaining, lifting New York a 110-108 victory over the Grizzlies.
Before hitting the winner, Anthony committed a foul that allowed Memphis to tie the game on Zach Randolph's three-point play with 14.2 seconds left.
Working against Tony Allen at the other end -- and looking to be the hero in his ninth game with the Knicks -- Anthony dribbled left and took a step back, knocking down the fall-away jumper from just inside the three-point line on the left wing.
"It was a screen and roll with me and 'Melo," said Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire, who ended with 26 points. "Either one of us was going to take the shot depending on the spacing."
Memphis called a timeout, then tried a quick shot off the inbounds pass, but failed to get one off.
Anthony poured in 31 points and the Knicks improved to 6-3 since the All-Star was acquired from the Nuggets. Billups, however, missed his fifth straight game for New York because of a left thigh bruise. Toney Douglas continued to shine in his absence, scoring 18 points with 10 assists.
"We had to hold them off," said Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni. "They're good, we just shot the ball extremely well tonight."
New York is now 6-3 since acquiring Anthony and Billups.
The Mavericks, who possess the NBA's third best record at 46-18, had been red- hot but cooled off a little in the past week and dropped their second game in three tries Wednesday in New Orleans after Jarrett Jack, starting in place of the injured Chris Paul, made three free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining to lift the Hornets past Dallas, 93-92.