Rajon Rondo in Mavs' lineup
DALLAS -- Point guard Rajon Rondo will make his debut with the Dallas Mavericks' star-studded starting five against an extremely short-handed San Antonio Spurs team.
The Spurs, who lost in triple overtime to the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, announced that several key players would sit out Saturday's game in Dallas.
Power forward Tim Duncan (rest), shooting guard Manu Ginobili (rest), small forward Kawhi Leonard (bruised right hand) and point guard Tony Parker (hamstring) are out against the Mavs. Reserve point guard Patty Mills has been out all season due to right shoulder surgery.
"The bottom line is, whoever they put out there, you've got to be ready to compete at a super high level for the entire game or you get embarrassed," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "That's just the way it is."
Carlisle said all the players involved in the blockbuster deal that sent Rondo from Boston to Dallas have passed their physicals, so Rondo is cleared to play against the Spurs.
