Will Rick Carlisle sit Brendan Haywood tonight?

May, 5, 2012
5/05/12
10:30
AM CT
DALLAS -- Mavericks backup center Ian Mahinmi has been the most productive center Dallas has put on the floor against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that isn't saying much.

Mahinmi has averaged 6.3 and 4.3 rebounds in 18.7 minutes. In Games 2 and 3, he started the second half over disappointing big man Brendan Haywood.

Will coach Rick Carlisle opt to go with the more agile and active Mahinmi as the starter in tonight's do-or-die Game 4 at American Airlines Center? Haywood's minutes have dwindled in the series from 19 to 10 to seven in Game 3. He's averaged three points and three boards.

Carlisle stuck to his guns and wouldn't discuss his plans for tonight.

"I’m not going to talk about lineups this morning," Carlisle said after the Mavs' morning shootaround. "That’s my policy, stay consistent with it. It’s been three years, 11 months and 22 ½ days, or whatever, but you know, it’s not about tweaking this or that, it’s about playing better, playing a better overall game and that’s what we’re going to do."

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TEAM LEADERS

POINTS
Dirk Nowitzki
PTS AST STL MIN
17.3 2.5 0.7 31.3
OTHER LEADERS
ReboundsS. Marion 7.8
AssistsD. Collison 5.1
StealsD. Collison 1.2
BlocksE. Brand 1.3

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