For the Dallas Mavericks, there’s nothing left for them to do this season except to start winning. They’ve already seen a season’s worth of odd events and in-game situations that a veteran-filled squad has seen too many times. Stacking up wins is the habit they would like to start forming, and soon.

Win number one seemed all but sealed in Oklahoma City last night after Vince Carter’s 24-foot three-pointer gave Dallas a 102-101 lead with 1.4 second left on the clock. As has been the case so far this season though, the ball didn’t quite fall their way in the end. Their defense forced Kevin Durant to launch his 28-foot shot, while fading away in a last ditch effort to save the game. As a defense, you can’t be happier with the shot selection the Thunder was forced to take with the game on the line.

Release. Buzzer. Swish. Game.

The Thunder faithful in Loud City had been rocking all night, but were never more rowdy than they were after Durant’s shot fell to give Oklahoma City the 104-102 win, dropping the defending champs to 0-3. For the first time since the 1969-70 season, the defending champion lost their first three games following their NBA Finals victory. That team in 1969-70 was the Boston Celtics who were still trying to find their way in their first year without Bill Russell after his retirement.

These Dallas Mavericks are still trying to find their way as well, but made some tangible progress towards where they want to eventually be, despite the heartbreaking finish. It doesn’t mean much for a veteran, championship team to dwell on moral victories, but it’s all they have at this point.

Not surprisingly, Jason Terry was upbeat after the close loss.

“This was an encouraging game for us,” The Mavericks’ unofficial spokesman said. “Yes, we wanted to win but tomorrow is a big game. We’ve lost two in a row at home; it’s time to get one (a win).”

That’s all this team can focus on right now. Rick Carlisle referenced how the ‘Basketball Gods’ aren’t currently on their side, so they need to continue working hard and refining what they’ve learned to do in order to succeed in this league. Specifically, the Mavericks need to find a way to get more production out of their biggest offseason addition, Lamar Odom.

New pieces Carter and Delonte West both had their moments in this big game, but Odom was virtually invisible. Check that, he was very visible, but for all the wrong reasons with 4 points on 2 for 11 shooting in 17 minutes. Odom is obviously capable of so much more, but he and Carlisle must continue working together in order to figure out how to best fit him into their system. The Mavericks will always be a good, competitive team with Dirk at the helm, but their ultimate success will come from teamwork and players like Odom thriving to maximum efficiency in their respective roles.

With ex-assistant coach Dwane Casey coming to town, there’s no better time than tonight at home against the Toronto Raptors to start doing just that.