Mavericks to sit four starters vs. Thunder
The Dallas Mavericks hosted a doozy at American Airlines Center on Tuesday night, and the day after taking a tough loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Mavs have elected to provide four of their starters with a much-needed respite.
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Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, Wesley Matthews, and Chandler Parsons will all miss the team's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, according to The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater.
The midweek contest represents the second game in as many nights for both squads, with the Thunder having prevailed against the fiesty Minnesota Timbewolves on Tuesday.
The aforementioned Dallas quartet played a cumulative 164 minutes against the Cavs; Williams led the way with 43, followed by Matthews (42), Parsons (41), and Nowitzki (38). With recent injuries and, in Nowitzki's case, old age as restrictive factors, the Mavs are exercising caution, and as a result will be noticeably shorthanded against the 27-12 Thunder.
Thus, the Mavs' lone remaining starter, Zaza Pachulia, will have to hold down the fort along with Dallas' reserves, while his usual running mates watch from the sidelines.