Mavericks Practice Report (12/19/09)

Earl K. Sneed, Mavs.com
Mavericks Practice Report (12/19/09)

Now is when the Dallas Mavericks know that they must rally around each other most of all.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

After losing the team's leading-scorer, Dirk Nowitzki, early in the second quarter of a 116-108 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets on Friday night, the Mavericks realized that each player is going to have to step up if the 7-footer is out for an extended period of time.

Nowitzki's collision with Rockets forward Carl Landry at the 9:28-mark of the second left Landry missing a few teeth and had Nowitzki in the locker room being stitched up after suffering a deep laceration to his right elbow. Though x-rays were negative, the Mavs star did stay home from practice on Saturday, getting a heavy dose of pain medication. Nowitzki is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Cleveland.

"We'll know more tomorrow, I suppose," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said after Saturday's practice.

In a league were injuries can decide the course of a season, the Mavs know if Nowitzki does miss time, the show must go on.

"There's a lot of possibilities (of players seeing game action if Nowitzki misses time). Everybody is going to have to be ready to step up and pick up the slack. We have work ahead of us. We spent some time on some things today, we needed to do -- a lot of tough games coming up."

One benefit that the Mavs have at their disposal is an incredibly deep roster, including at the big positions. Adding veteran players like Tim Thomas and Drew Gooden this offseason, the Mavericks have players that have been in big moments and thrived. They may be asked to thrive again in Nowitzki's stead.

"Whoever is put in that situation is going to have to go out and be aggressive, as a starter or whatever the situation may be," Thomas said. "All and all, it's a team sport. (Nowitzki) is a big part of what we do, of course. The injury, it happened, and whoever coach puts in that void will just have to be aggressive and help the team in whatever fashion they can help."

"That's what you bring veteran guys in for. It's a long season, anything can happen and if something was to happen like that, you just have to rely on your veterans. That's why everybody has to stay ready."

But even as guys were stepping up, extending a tough Rockets team to overtime before falling in the extra period, the injury became just one of Dallas' concerns Friday night.

Drawing six technicals, two ejections and taking issues with controversial calls made by the crew officiating the game, the Mavericks are protesting the loss, citing "multiple misapplications of the rules by the officials."

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Center Erick Dampier, ejected for the first time in his career, was eventually joined by Carlisle in the locker room before the clock hit all zeroes in the extra period. Dampier received his second technical for allegedly throwing an elbow after a flagrant one was called on an Aaron Brooks foul on the Mavs center.

"I really didn't understand the play," Dampier said. "They say it looks like I threw an elbow but the way he pulled me, the momentum took me. It looked like I threw an elbow, which I really didn't."

"I've never been in that situation before where a player gets fouled and they give him a technical and then they eject him. I don't understand that. Okay, if you're going to eject me, can I shoot my two free throws? And then it was a flagrant."

But Dampier points out that the questionable calls didn't lose the Mavs the game, and the veteran says the team still has to find a way to win despite the calls and despite Nowitzki's injury. The Mavericks may be placed in the same situation on Sunday, as LeBron James and the Cavaliers head into Dallas.

The Mavs will be looking to get back in the win column when they host the Cavs Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. CT. That game will air locally on TXA 21 and TXA HD, and nationally on NBA TV. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-MAVS.

The Mavericks and the NBA have introduced the official NBA All-Star game ballot, featuring Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Josh Howard, Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. For more on how to vote for your favorite Mavs for the All-Star game, to be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, visit Mavs.com.

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