National Basketball Association

Mavericks' Kidd getting a night off

Published Mar. 4, 2010 1:21 a.m. ET

foxsports

Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd got a needed break Wednesday night.

Kidd, who turns 37 later this month, was inactive for the Mavericks' game against Minnesota, their 10th in 16 days since the All-Star break.

``We're going to sit him because of the string of games we've had,'' coach Rick Carlisle said before the game. ``He's perfectly healthy and we want to keep it that way. It's been a grueling stretch for us and this is what we're going to do.''

Kidd has averaged 36 minutes a game in 60 starts, and was only 1-of-9 shooting with five points in Monday's victory at Charlotte. The All-Star guard missed only one game before Wednesday.

Carlisle said Kidd ``was very agreeable'' to having the night off.

On Friday, Kidd had his first triple-double this season and 104th of his career, the third most in the NBA history behind Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Kidd had 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds in the Mavericks' 111-103 overtime victory at Atlanta.

Dallas plays three more games in four days starting Friday.