<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Mavericks have what is being termed a "big" game tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers. Who plays is even bigger. Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Finley are expected back in the Mavericks' lineup when Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers come calling at 8:30 p.m. It's the first step to the ultimate goal, which isn't necessarily running up wins in the last 23 games of the regular season. "We're at the point now where it's not about any one game or two games," owner Mark Cuban said Wednesday. "You want to do as well as you can in the standings. But as I've said from Day One, I just want to be healthy and playing well. "We're not going to rush somebody back. If it's the last game and it's tied and we have a choice between [being seeded] four or five or six ? unless it was to make the playoffs ? being healthy going into the playoffs takes a premium over everything." Particularly in a season when the Mavericks have been wracked with injuries to every starter and their top two reserves. That group has been together for only 10 of 59 games and only twice since Dec. 26. Not exactly the best circumstance under which to build a well-oiled machine. </div> Source
