Cleveland ? A promising season has turned into something else for the Cleveland Cavaliers: panic.

Not long ago, the playoffs looked like a sure thing. Now, nothing about the Cavs’ future is certain.

Jamal Crawford scored 25 points, and Maurice Taylor had 16, including 11 in the fourth quarter, as the New York Knicks damaged Cleveland’s playoff chances with a 95-89 victory Thursday over the Cavaliers.

“It was like we were just playing to play,” LeBron James said. “It wasn’t like we were playing for a playoff spot. We had no sense of urgency, and I don’t know why. Hopefully, this game won’t come back to haunt us.”

With guard Stephon Marbury watching from the bench for the entire fourth quarter, the Knicks held off Cleveland’s rally and handed the Cavs a loss they couldn’t afford with less than a week left in the regular season.

James scored 27 points on 7-of-25 shooting — 4-of-13 on three-pointers — and had a career-high 18 rebounds for the Cavaliers (40-38), who are tied with Philadelphia (40-38) for the No. 7 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but would lose a tiebreaker to the 76ers.

Cleveland leads idle New Jersey (38-40) by two games in the standings with four games left, but three of those are on the road. Also, the Cavs would lose a tiebreaker to the Nets, which is why this game, the Cavs’ third straight against a non-playoff team, was one they couldn’t let slip away.

But now that they have, the Cavs, who play today in Washington, are in a spot they never imagined possible a month ago when they seemed destined to make their first trip to the playoffs since 1998.

“It’s going to be tough now, man,” Cavs forward Drew Gooden said. “Our backs are against the wall. It’s like the NCAA Tournament for us — one loss and we’re out.”

76ers 126, Heat 119, OT

Philadelphia — Allen Iverson carried Philadelphia in regulation, Andre Iguodala took over in overtime, and Philadelphia overcame a career-high 48 points from Dwyane Wade. Iverson scored 38 points, and Iguodala added 19, helping the Sixers spoil the return of Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal returned after missing three games because of a stomach ailment and viral infection.

Mavericks 102, Trail Blazers 90

Portland, Ore. — Jerry Stackhouse came off the bench to score 18 points, and the Mavericks beat the woeful Blazers.

Shareef-Abdur-Rahim had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who have lost nine of 10 games.

Dirk Nowitzki, who scored 31 points in the Mavericks’ 95-90 victory Wednesday over Seattle, did not play because of a sore left shoulder.