Anthony Slater: “The Mavs’ five available reserves, promoted from third to second string on
Wednesday, will make a combined $8 million this season. That’s fewer than half of what Thunder reserve Enes Kanter will make in the first year of his recently signed contract ($16.4 million). In the first half, the point discrepancy matched the dollar difference. The Thunder starters quickly staked OKC to a 13-point lead, the backups helped stretch it above 20. By halftime, it sat at 23. But an otherwise sleepy game was livened midway through the second. Barea and Westbrook got tangled up and then Villanueva poured gasoline on the flames, putting his hands to both Westbrook’s and Serge Ibaka’s throat on separate instances.