--G Jason Kidd missed his first game of the season due to a sore lower back. He had been the only Dallas player to appear in every game this season, but with only a dozen left and Denver in the house, Kidd couldn't go. Kidd stretched before the game, but didn't dress. The pain in Kidd's lower back was caused by a fall he took against Golden State on Wednesday night.

Before the game, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle left some room for Kidd to possibly make an appearance, but obviously since he didn't dress, he couldn't play. That would lead one to believe that Kidd will be in uniform when the Mavs play at Cleveland with time running out to get out of the eighth seed.

--F Dirk Nowitzki always says he wants to take the game-winner. Friday against Denver he couldn't nail an elbow jumper, his bread-and-butter, in the final 10 seconds and a hugely important game on the line. Nowitzki was 0-for-3 in the fourth quarter, but had 26 points, and made no excuses for failing to come through in the clutch.

"I'll take a 16-footer wide open for the game any time. The play was actually kind of broken up, which actually worked in our favor, because they were scrambling. We still ran our play and I came off the double and was open. I've just got to make the shot."

--G J.J. Barea had unusual responsibilities Friday night with Jason Kidd out of the lineup. Barea didn't start, but he logged 30 minutes and played a huge role in the painful two-point loss to Denver. Barea has averaged 21 points over the last two games. He had 22 against the Nuggets and he tied his career-high with five three-pointers. While the diminutive guard didn't start, he was often the catalyst. This performance followed his eight-point outburst that closed out the third quarter Wednesday and buried the Warriors.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G/F Jerry Stackhouse (right heel) and F Josh Howard (left ankle) are questionable for Friday's game against Denver.

--G/F Devean George (right knee) is out indefinitely.