ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Jason Kidd, shooting guard J.J. Barea, Small forward Josh Howard, Power forward Dirk Nowitzki, Center Erick Dampier. Bench -- Guard Jason Terry, Guard Antoine Wright, Center Ryan Hollins, Forward Brandon Bass.
PLAYER NOTES: --F Brandon Bass isn't always sure when he'll get into the game or how long he'll stay on the court, but he made all of his 13 minutes worthwhile in Game 5.
He had just six points and one rebound, but he made three of his first four shots and his aggressiveness in the paint was a major factor.
Bass entered Game 5 nailing 58.3 percent of his shots in the series and averaging 8.5 points in 18 minutes.
His job gets tougher against the Mavs' next opponent, the Denver Nuggets, who have strong interior players in Nene, Kenyon Martin and shot-block specialist Chris Anderson.
--F Josh Howard shot just 3 of 8 in first half for eight points, and he didn't have a huge third quarter, as he has in previous games.
Still, the Mavericks are thrilled with his Game 5 performance of 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals. If a statistic existed for emotion and energy he would have led the team, and that's something the Mavs had been missing most of the season.
Howard hit a pretty bank with less than five minutes to go to push the lead back to 10. On the next possession he intercepted an Ime Udoka pass, a critical turnover to keep the lead in double digits.
--G Jason Kidd seems to come up with big 3-pointers every game. He doesn't score much all the time, but when he does he has a knack for making it count.
In Tuesday's Game 5, he was 1-of-5 early in the third quarter, but he hit his second 3-pointer to put the Mavs back up by seven as the Spurs desperately tried to get within one possession.
With less than two minutes left in the third quarter and the Mavs holding on to a 72-65 lead, Kidd stepped up and drained his third 3-pointer for a 10-point lead. Then he beat the third-quarter buzzer from the corner for his fourth 3-pointer to put the Mavs up by 15.
Along with the big shots, Kidd is bringing control and leadership to the team, qualities that have taken time to come out but are shining at the moment.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--G-F Jerry Stackhouse (right heel) is out indefinitely.
--G/F Devean George (right knee) is out for the rest of the season.
