Brooks chose Johan Petro at center with Chris Wilcox sidelined 10 days to two weeks with a dislocated finger. His reasoning was Nick Collison finally has found his rhythm, averaging 13.0 points and 8.7 rebounds the past three weeks coming off the bench.
Petro started nine games early in the season but fell out of the rotation once Brooks took over. Petro, averaging 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, hasn't even played in five games but scored 15 points a week ago at Orlando. "It's difficult but I just try to be ready every time they call my name and try to help the team," Petro said. "The coach is just doing what he thinks is best for the team. You just have to keep working out and wait until your name gets called."
TRIM THE LIST
Veteran forward Desmond Mason is from Waxahachie, about 20 miles from American Airlines Center. When he was a rookie he used to trade tickets with teammates to secure 40 tickets every time he played the Mavericks. His guest list Saturday night included 21 tickets.
"The longer you're in the league the more you learn to cut that list, tell some people, 'No,' " Mason said. "The only other city it's like this is Portland. My wife is from Portland, so I usually need a lot of tickets there, too."
MILITARY SALUTE
The Mavericks' fifth Seats for Soldier spromotion allowed 150 military members to sit courtside. The seats were donated by season-ticket holders to the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Another 100 lower-level tickets were donated to soldiers from Tinker Air Force Base.
