MIAMI - Mavericks guard Michael Finley is headed to the injured list today after suffering a second-degree right ankle sprain Tuesday night at Orlando.
Finley will miss a minimum of five games, with his earliest possible return Nov. 21 at Denver. However, there is concern that Finley could be out longer.
Asked how long Finley could be out, Mavs coach Don Nelson said: "A lot more than a little."
Dan Dickau will replace Finley on the active roster for tonight's game against the Miami Heat. Finley underwent further tests Wednesday in Miami and is scheduled to return to Dallas today for further treatment.
Nelson hasn't decided who'll replace Finley in the starting lineup. Nelson could decide to go small with Jason Terry joining rookie Devin Harris in the backcourt. Marquis Daniels and Jerry Stackhouse also are possibilities.
Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki were available for the entire practice Wednesday and reported no lingering effects from their respective injuries. Howard slightly sprained his left ankle against the Magic, and Nowitzki experienced swelling in his right ankle because of bone spurs.
Up for Dampier
Heat center Shaquille O'Neal doesn't waste his time getting up for power forwards.
"I only get venom for other big men," he said Wednesday. "[Kevin] Garnett is my buddy. Tim Duncan isn't my problem. Dirk Nowitzki isn't my problem."
Fair enough. But does O'Neal get up for Erick Dampier?
"A little," he admitted.
Dampier and O'Neal had their share of battles when they resided in California. The Lakers and O'Neal usually got the best of Golden State and Dampier, but that doesn't mean the new Mavs center didn't learn a thing or two.
"I pretty much know what he's going to do," Dampier said. "We know that the ball is going to go through him, so I'll be physical with him. Make him take shots contested. He's going to make some. He's going to miss some."
Though Dampier (6-foot-11, 265 pounds) is easily the most physical player on the Mavs' roster, guarding O'Neal (7-1, 325) remains a team endeavor.
"Nobody plays Shaq straight up," Mavs assistant coach Avery Johnson said. "We still have to help out on Shaq. He draws three people, I don't care who the defender is. He and Damp have had some big battles over the years, so I'm sure it's going to be a great game."
Praising Nowitzki
Count Heat coach Stan Van Gundy among Dirk Nowitzki's admirers. Van Gundy said Nowitzki's talents make it difficult to devise a defensive game plan against the Mavs.
"Dirk Nowitzki, by himself, is one of the great and unique players in our league," Van Gundy said. "I don't know if there's ever been a 7-footer like Dirk Nowitzki."
Finley will miss a minimum of five games, with his earliest possible return Nov. 21 at Denver. However, there is concern that Finley could be out longer.
Asked how long Finley could be out, Mavs coach Don Nelson said: "A lot more than a little."
Dan Dickau will replace Finley on the active roster for tonight's game against the Miami Heat. Finley underwent further tests Wednesday in Miami and is scheduled to return to Dallas today for further treatment.
Nelson hasn't decided who'll replace Finley in the starting lineup. Nelson could decide to go small with Jason Terry joining rookie Devin Harris in the backcourt. Marquis Daniels and Jerry Stackhouse also are possibilities.
Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki were available for the entire practice Wednesday and reported no lingering effects from their respective injuries. Howard slightly sprained his left ankle against the Magic, and Nowitzki experienced swelling in his right ankle because of bone spurs.
Up for Dampier
Heat center Shaquille O'Neal doesn't waste his time getting up for power forwards.
"I only get venom for other big men," he said Wednesday. "[Kevin] Garnett is my buddy. Tim Duncan isn't my problem. Dirk Nowitzki isn't my problem."
Fair enough. But does O'Neal get up for Erick Dampier?
"A little," he admitted.
Dampier and O'Neal had their share of battles when they resided in California. The Lakers and O'Neal usually got the best of Golden State and Dampier, but that doesn't mean the new Mavs center didn't learn a thing or two.
"I pretty much know what he's going to do," Dampier said. "We know that the ball is going to go through him, so I'll be physical with him. Make him take shots contested. He's going to make some. He's going to miss some."
Though Dampier (6-foot-11, 265 pounds) is easily the most physical player on the Mavs' roster, guarding O'Neal (7-1, 325) remains a team endeavor.
"Nobody plays Shaq straight up," Mavs assistant coach Avery Johnson said. "We still have to help out on Shaq. He draws three people, I don't care who the defender is. He and Damp have had some big battles over the years, so I'm sure it's going to be a great game."
Praising Nowitzki
Count Heat coach Stan Van Gundy among Dirk Nowitzki's admirers. Van Gundy said Nowitzki's talents make it difficult to devise a defensive game plan against the Mavs.
"Dirk Nowitzki, by himself, is one of the great and unique players in our league," Van Gundy said. "I don't know if there's ever been a 7-footer like Dirk Nowitzki."
