--F Dirk Nowitzki called it a "weird sequence" when he hurt himself twice in the final minutes of Saturday's game. First, he injured his right elbow, saying he was unable to bend it.

Then he rolled his problematic right ankle, had to leave the game with under four minutes to go and then hobbled back with 2:02 to play. He finished the game with a game-high 39 points and eight rebounds.

"I had to go out and take a couple of steps in the tunnel and loosen up and I was able to go back in the game," Nowitzki said. "I was able to grind it out, and whatever happened, we needed this win. We needed to get some confidence and get this win."

--G J.J. Barea said he knows newcomer Matt Carroll will get his shot, but he's not worried about losing minutes to the 6-foot-6 shooting guard once Carroll joins the team Monday.

"Straight-out, knock-down shooter," Barea said of Carroll. "It never hurts to have a shooter like that on the team."

--G Jason Terry said the Mavs saw how important driving to the basket can be to their overall success rather than settling for jump shots as they are prone to do.

The Mavs had 23 points in the paint Saturday against Utah with Terry and Dirk Nowitzki leading the attack to the rim.

"For us to be successful, especially the second half of the season, we're going to have to get to the basket," Terry said. "We're not going to be able to rely on those jump shots, especially against good defensive teams. You have to show that you're going to be the aggressor."

MEDICAL WATCH:

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

--F Josh Howard (sprained left wrist) missed his fourth consecutive game Saturday and is questionable for Monday's game at Philadelphia.