Nowitzki, Center Erick Dampier. Bench -- Guard Jason Terry, Forward

Brandon Bass, F Shawne Williams, Guard J.J. Barea, Center DeSagana Diop.

PLAYER NOTES:

--G Jason Terry has always said he doesn't care if he starts or

comes off the bench, just as long as he plays. He's relishing his

seemingly now steady role as sixth man, although Terry is a reserve in

theory only. He's playing starter's minutes and is always on the floor

in crunch time, while starter Gerald Green has yet to play more than

14 minutes in his four consecutive starts at shooting guard.

Terry scored 18 of his game-high 31 points in the first half in

Wednesday's win over the Rockets. He also came up big in the fourth

quarter as Houston made a run. Terry drained 11 points in the final

period, including a big three-pointer and a driving lay-up with less

than two minutes to go.

"You've got to realize that fourth quarter is winning time, you're

going to play your guys that you depend on to get it done and have

been in that position," said coach Rick Carlisle.

--C DeSagana Diop said after Tuesday's game at Charlotte that he

had no idea why he never got into the game. It was a rare back-to-back

for the 7-foot backup, who the Mavs signed as a free agent for the

entire mid-level exception. At least he knew that against New York's

small lineup and run-and-gun style, he and starting center Erick

Dampier wouldn't be used much. Dampier played just four minutes in the

game, but no minutes against the Bobcats clearly seemed to disappoint

Diop. He spoke with coach Rick Carlisle after the Charlotte win and

the coach told him the same thing he tells all his players who are

caught up in an extremely fluid rotation: Be ready.

Diop returned to the rotation on Wednesday at Houston. He played

more than 16 minutes, scoring four points with five rebounds.

--F Shawne Williams said he was all in favor of the preseason

trade that sent him from Indiana to Dallas. "A clean slate," he called

it after some off-court incidents got him trouble and run out of town

by Pacers president Larry Bird.

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle coached Williams his rookie season at

Indiana and gambled on the young, 6-foot-9 player who can fill three

positions. Until Tuesday night at Charlotte, but especially Wednesday

at Houston, all Williams had been filling is time on the practice

court -- before practice, during practice and after practice. The time

finally paid off with first-quarter action at Charlotte followed by 31

minutes of playing time against Houston with Josh Howard out nursing a

sprained ankle. Much of Williams' time was spent guarding Ron Artest,

who finished with 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Williams will take

playing time when he can get it and when he can't, he said he'll be

patient.

"I learned my first year it's a long season, so thinking of the

rotation, you might not play 10 games but you might finish the next 72

games," Williams said. "It's up and down. I just have to be ready

whenever so that's what I'm going to be."

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G/F Jerry Stackhouse (right heel) is out indefinitely.

--F Josh Howard (left ankle), missed Wednesday's game. His status

for Friday's home game against Memphis is uncertain.