Inside Report: Practice Report — Kidd set for return, Terry makes amends

Earl K. Sneed reports from the Mavericks' Saturday practice, where point guard Jason Kidd returned to action after taking two games off to rest.

DALLAS — After getting back on track with a much-needed 107-96 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, the Mavericks returned to the practice court with positive vibes while looking ahead to their final back-to-back of the regular season.

But Friday night’s win, which brought a four-game losing streak to an end, was still being digested by the team when it reconvened the next morning, after several different storylines emerged that were left for Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle to address before taking his players into battle for the final three tests on the schedule.

“We’re hot. We are on a winning streak,” Carlisle joked following the practice session. “This time of year a lot of things can happen in a short amount of time. The key for us is to concentrate on our own business. Keep working on our health and our game, and take advantage of our opportunities. When you are on a four-game schneid the next win is important. That was the biggest thing in my mind. I am glad we won. It has us reenergized and, again, a lot can happen in the next three games.”

One thing that the coach says is sure to happen is the return of point guard Jason Kidd to the court, after Carlisle rested the 38-year-old for two games.

With head athletic trainer Casey Smith monitoring his conditioning, Kidd went through practice and fully expects to play when the Mavericks (54-25) wrap up their three-game homestand Sunday evening against the Phoenix Suns, as the Dallas team bids for the season series sweep. And after taking some time off, which he admits was certainly needed, Kidd says he is now ready to help lead his team through the final stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs.

“It was a much-needed break for me,” Kidd confessed. “We had a game plan going into the season that Coach [Carlisle] and Casey executed. And I get back to work tomorrow and I am looking forward to being on the court with my guys…I feel fresh. I feel great, but I was glad to get a break at the end of the season to get ready for the playoffs. The schedule fits perfect for me to have almost a whole week off. That is what Coach and Casey talked about and I was in agreement with them. So, I feel good.”

But while Kidd joviality rejoined the team, sixth man Jason Terry came to practice simply hoping to make amends following a sideline incident during the second quarter of Friday night’s game.

Terry played less than eight minutes in the win, going scoreless in his short stint on the court, before his frustration spilled over to the bench, leading Carlisle to sit the sharpshooter for the remainder of the night. But all seems forgiven the next day, according to both Terry and Carlisle, as the team tries to put the situation in the past and move ahead to the final crucial stretch before the opening round of the playoffs.

“Emotions are high at this point in the season. Last season, we would have been really lax and went through the motions and this year it is totally different. Positive or negative, that spark is there,” Terry said of the incident. “Last night, I let it become negative. Going forward it is not going to be that way. It is going to be all positive. We need our energies going in the right direction. These times are intense.”

“Today is a new day. We have moved on,” Carlisle added. “[Terry] is fine and he is going to be fine. Again, in this league, each game is a process and each team has a formula for winning. Nothing falls on the shoulders of one guy on this team. And all year we have epitomized what a true team needs to be.”

Note: The fourth Suns-Mavericks matchup of the season will tip off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday night, airing locally on Fox Sports Southwest. Great seats are still available and tickets can be purchased by visiting the American Airlines Center box office, logging on to Mavs.com or by calling 214-747-MAVS (6287).

Single-game tickets for the first two Mavs home games of the First Round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs are now on sale. Fans that purchase single-game tickets will receive a commemorative 2011 Mavs Playoff ticket*, which will allow the fans to experience augmented reality, a new technology that will bring the ticket to life with animated Mavs players including Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. Game day and commemorative tickets will go live when the 2011 Playoffs begin.

Tickets will be available online at mavs.com, via phone (214-747-6287 or 1-800-4NBA-TIX) and the American Airlines Center® North Box Office**. Ticket prices start at $15 and up and there is an eight ticket limit per game. Tickets are also sold at all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Simon Mall in Garland and Shops at Willow Bend).

Fans that purchase single game tickets at the American Airlines Center® North Box Office will receive their commemorative ticket at that time. For those purchasing online or at a Ticketmaster outlet, commemorative tickets will be available to pick up at the American Airlines Center® North Box Office or on Playoff game nights at the Mavs ticket sales table on the main concourse near the North Box Office. Augmented Reality is available only on Android phones. For more information, go to http://www.nba.com/mavericks/ar/ar.html.

Individual game tickets are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the American Airlines Center box office, on Mavs.com or by calling 214-747-MAVS (6287). Get in on the action and be there for all the thrills!

Fans can visit Mavs.com or call 214.747.MAVS for more information and a complete listing of regular-season home games.