If you’ve been a fan of the Mavericks at all during the Dirk Nowitzki-Mark Cuban era, the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night may have been quite alarming.
After rallying to take a nine-point lead with a little over five minutes left, Rick Carlisle sat nearly all his best contributors. Out were Dirk, Devin Harris, J.J. Barea and Dwight Powell. In their place were rookies Dennis Smith Jr. and Maxi Kleber, along with Yogi Ferrell and Salah Mejri.