--F Tim Thomas has made his money and played a much bigger role on teams in the past. That doesn't mean he isn't vital to Dallas' success this season. The 6-foot-10 sharpshooter broke out Wednesday at Houston, scoring 23 points off the bench. Thomas can play along the frontline, and since he's deadly behind the arc, fits into the offense well when Dirk Nowitzki isn't in the game. "The main thing was to come in and help these guys get over the hump," Thomas said. "They're going to be in the playoffs. That's no question, but to try to put a team together that will make a run for a couple years, that's the key."
--F Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd are among the NBA players shocked by Allen Iverson's sudden retirement.
"He's been so much fun to watch," Nowitzki said. "At the size that he is and the way he performed over so many years, he'll definitely be missed in the league if he retires."
Kidd was glad Iverson made the decision on his terms.
"He has the right to do what he wants and if it's time for him to step aside, then that's his choice," Kidd said. "Everybody's gonna have their opinion these days and as long as he's happy, that's the most important thing."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've played better the last two games," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "We got a lot of contributions from a lot of guys tonight." -- Coach Rick Carlisle on Friday after beating Indiana by 21 two nights after beating Houston by 21.
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