Najera ready to mix it up again

Eddie Najera doesn't regret his hard, flagrant foul on Manu Ginobili in Game 4 and he's hoping it sent a message not only to the Spurs, but to his Maverick teammates.

His action on Ginobili earned him a flagrant foul, penalty 2, and an ejection, but no additional fine or suspension.

It's the jolt that it seemed to provide the Mavericks that Najera was happy to provide. The way he sees it, somebody had to do it.

"It was kind of frustrating to watch some of them hit Dirk in the face,'' Najera said today after shootaround. "It was the same (kind of) foul. So I just came in and tried to prove a point that we're going to fight back. And that's what's going to happen tonight.''

Najera, who played only 47 seconds at the start of the fourth quarter Sunday before he collared Ginoibili on a drive to the basket, is hoping he gets a chance to have an impact in Game 5 tonight. Coach Rick Carlisle hinted on Monday that he may go more to Najera for his energy and toughness, two areas where the Spurs have been better than the Mavericks.

Najera added that he thought the NBA acted correctly in not suspending him for his play on Ginobili.

"It's the first time I've ever done that,'' he said. "I wasn't worried about that (a suspension), because I'm not that type of guy.''