Dirk late for practice, out of the lineup

Published Feb. 6, 2010 at 12:56 a.m.

Dirk Nowitzki will be active, but is not starting tonight, and it's not because of his sore right thumb that he's been fighting for a week.

Nowitzki was late for the shootaround before the game and "rules are rules'' a team spokesperson said.

Nowitzki joked about not missing any games because of the thumb, but he didn't mention anything about being late to a practice.

He'll play as the game goes along, of course. But what if the Mavericks break out to a big lead? It wouldn't be a bad thing to rest his aching thumb.

Josh Howard is in the starting lineup, along with Shawn Marion, Erick Dampier, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry.

--Eddie Sefko

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