Jason and two other Dallas starters will take tonight’s game against Indiana off — namely to give coach Rick Carlisle a chance to see what some other players can do.

No. 2, Erick Dampier and Jerry Stackhouse will dress against the Pacers, but will not play. It’s also an opportunity for Jason to rest his mildly strained hamstring, which has improved. According to the Star-Telegram:

Kidd played only one quarter of the Mavericks’ two-game road trip against the Bulls and Bucks last week, and Carlisle said one reason was a tight hamstring.

"I think his hamstring is doing better," Carlisle said. "I just don’t want him to play back-to-back

[games]."

“We’re just trying to space this thing out optimally as far as work and rest.”

GOLD MEDAL MYTH
During the Olympics, it was widely reported that Jason intended to give his gold medal to the wife of Las Vegas hotel mogul Steve Wynn — a tale that, as the Star-Telegram reported on Wednesday, was untrue.

"She’s a very smart woman, and she loves sports," Kidd said. "We talked a lot during the summer. I told her she can borrow it whenever she wants, but it’s still mine."

NEXT UP
No. 2 will spectate tonight while his team takes on the Indiana Pacers at Indiana at 7pm.

RELATED STORIES
Indy game just like a trip home for Williams (Star-Telegram.com, Oct 15th, 2008)
http://www.star-telegram.com/nbainsider/story/975076.html
It’s homecoming week for Dallas Mavericks’ Carlisle (Dallas Morning News, Oct 14th, 2008)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/101508dnspomavslede.33f71cb.html