Taking the floor without 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki (right Achilles soreness), starting point guard Deron Williams (left calf strain) and veteran reserve Devin Harris (right great toe sprain), the Mavericks (2-6) tried to carry over the momentum of Tuesday’s 109-97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers to begin their daunting road trip. However, after undersized guard J.J. Barea, swingman Wesley Matthews and starting center Andrew Bogut all logged at least 29 minutes in Tuesday’s victory, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle opted to give the veterans a scheduled rest the following night against the reigning Western Conference champions. And although the Mavs didn’t have enough fire power at their disposal to keep pace with the Warriors on their home floor, Carlisle says the team’s youth movement gained experience that could prove beneficial down the line.
With their veteran leaders out, Mavs’ young contributors gained valuable experience at Golden State
