...As for Mahinmi, the Spurs castoff who last played extended minutes in an impressive showing in San Antonio on Nov. 26 and helped snap his former team’s 12-game win streak, he notched his first career double-double, which is one more than Haywood, the Mavs’ $55 million man, has this season.
Eight of Mahinmi’s 12 points – three shy of his career-high – came at the free throw line on 10 attempts, which tied Haywood’s makes at the line on 32 attempts all season. Mahinmi, with a career-high 10 rebounds in a career-tying 21 minutes, was so active that even though coach Rick Carlisle praised Haywood’s work -- four points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in 19 minutes -- he stuck with Mahinmi for the entirety of a close fourth quarter with the win streak on the line.
Forgive yourself if Mahinmi doesn’t ring a bell. The little-used third-year pro apparently even shocked and awed Golden State coach Keith Smart.
“We knew he was on the roster,” Smart said before adding that he also knew he was a talented player.
“It’s great, especially for a guy like me,” Mahinmi said. “I’m looking for that kind of opportunity and for me to be able to come out and, not knowing when I’m going to get my playing time, it’s good. That means that all the work I do on an everyday basis works. So I’m going to keep doing what I do and hopefully get more playing time.”
Chandler might be recovered from his stomach bout by Thursday’s game against the New Jersey Nets. If not, Haywood will likely get the start, but Mahinmi, making less than $1 million, is pushing for minutes and Carlisle said he likes a good compe ion.
“He competes hard in practice. In games like tonight, he makes a strong case,” Carlisle said. “I am not by any stretch saying Haywood didn’t play well. I thought he did a good job, too. I just thought Ian’s energy level was the real difference-maker in the game.”