J-HO’S OK: Josh Howard led the Mavs in scoring (with 18), led the Mavs in plunges into the paint (almost countless) and led the Mavs in scares. The scare came at the hand – well, actually, the foot – of Manu Ginobili. In the open court, Howard was off-balance, and Manu trotted toward him. It seemed Ginobili could have avoided contact. But instead, his foot clipped Josh’s ankle.

It turned out to be nothing serious, and Josh played through it in the final two minutes of the first half. (And heck, this is the Spurs, so that’s what they do.) In fact, on the very next play, Josh recorded a blocked shot.

Meanwhile, Josh obviously responded to Avery’s desire to add more points in the paint, more “easy baskets.’’ Howard looked very comfortable with the mid-range shot (a lost NBA art) and was fearless when creating shots for himself inside. And as always, he scored early; eight of his 18 came in the first quarter.

DEVIN, BUT NO PARKER: With Tony Parker out, the Spurs tried to cover Devin Harris with Ginobili. For a Mavs fan, that was pretty fun to watch. Devin scored eight points in 16 minutes. But he told me there was no particular focus on the opponent here.

“It’s not really about the other team at this point,’’ he said. “We’re just working on our stuff. We want to make sure the younger guys know where they’re supposed to be, make sure they know their jobs.’’

It struck me as funny that Devin would refer to “the younger guys.’’

“Hey,’’ he laughed, “it’s my fourth year here. It’s time. You can’t count me as a young guy anymore.’’

MORE ON MANU: Less than an hour before tipoff, Ginobili veered from the court to climb into the stands to sign autographs. I’m tellin’ ya, Manu and the Spurs are almost difficult to hate. … Until the actual game starts.

SWOOP TO THE HOOP: A signature move from Dirk Nowitzki: 48 seconds left in the first quarter, and Dirk, starting in the right blocks, twists inside, going left, pivoting around Tim Duncan. The UberMan gets the layin, the foul and hits the free throw for three of his 13. Oh, and eight rebounds and two blocks. Vintage stuff. Nice to have back. He’s the MVP, as you might recall.

THE ANIMAL’S KINGDOM: Third-year pro Brandon Bass made a definitive “I belong with the varsity’’ statement despite missing his first five shots. The 6-8, 255-pound power forward did so from the very start (he blocked a shot in his initial seconds on the floor on the first play of the second quarter) and he did so throughout the late going, becoming automatic from the field (he finished 5-of-12 for 10 points) and pulling down five of his seven boards in the second half. He was a physical presence throughout, and while coaches suggest there is still much to learn – Bass can do better as a low-post receiver of the ball – he is, after one preseason game, well on his way to being the real deal as Dirk’s backup at the 4.

THE BEST OF THE JAYVEES: JJ Barea’s work might not have been a “varsity’’ moment. It was more like he was a JV player moving down to dominate the ninth-graders. But JJB – after earlier this week noting that he hasn’t been living up to Avery’s expectations – did do some special things in running the show. JJB scored 13 points and had three assists in 14 minutes – and interestingly, he did some of it while being guarded by Darius Washington, the guy who JJB beat out for a job in Mavs camp last fall. Of course, he’ll probably still never live up to Avery’s expectations. The lot in life of a Johnson-coached point guard, it seems.

TODAY’S CLICHES; OR ‘THE GENERAL’S GOOD OL’-FASHIONED CRAWDAD-BUCKET WISDOM’:  Avery’s bumper-sticker talk is obviously rubbing off. I asked Mo Ager if it mattered to win this game. “Yes, we are trying to win,’’ said Mo, before shifting gears. “No, check that. We WANT to win.’’

‘LET’S THROW IT TO CHRIS ARNOLD!’: Chris retains his job as the “in-game sideline entertainment’’ guy, and he’s rarely been as over-the-top as he was Tuesday. Chris introduced customers to a couple of martial-arts guys who are battling for Mark Cuban’s HDNet Fights. At one point Chris screamed that martial arts is “The hottest sport on the planet!’’ Later, Chris would order the T-shirt-shooting guys to fire merchandise into the audience and then bellowed “Make It Raaaaaaaiiiiiinnnnn!’’

Now, I don’t know from martial arts. (Cuban’s involvement now gives me a reason.) Nor do I know from rap music. (Do I really have to learn?) But shouldn’t the Mavs be telling Mavs fans that BASKETBALL is the hottest sport on the planet? And didn’t the last guy who bellowed “Make It Rain!’’ get Pacmanned right out of the NFL?

BIG HASSELL: Trenton Hassell looks STOUT. I don’t just mean his game, which was not bad considering he’s only been in camp with his new team for a few days because he was tending to his ill father; I mean, STOUT in the sense that I kinda thought he was 6-5 and maybe 200. … and he’s not.

The Mavs now list the former T’Wolf at 6-5, 233. (In college at Austin Peay, he was indeed just 200.) Now, maybe it’s just the Mavs’ uni that does it. I mean, maybe the T’Wolves’ uniforms would make Hulk Hogan look unsturdy. But Hassell certainly looks like a guy who can push around opposing 2’s.

QUOTABLE: “You sure you don’t want to talk about the Cowboys!?’’ said a playful Jason Terry.

DIOP TO IT: ‘Gana as an “offensive force’’? Not exactly. He did record an assist on a nice pass. And twice in the first half, he and Mo Ager were given what appeared to be called plays in a sort of “two-man game.’’ (The unlikely duo didn’t produce, but still. …) In total, Diop actually recorded THREE assists! And he shot 100 percent on, um, one shot. Which is plenty enough offense from him for me.

‘GO BABYCAKES!’: So I’m sitting next to a middle-aged lady who was EXTREMELY enthused about preseason basketball. She screamed and jumped to her feet for every single Mavs’ action and Mavs player. … but no player earned her lusty squeals more than Devin Harris.

“Go, Babycakes!’’ she’d yodel whenever Harris touched the ball.

Was I irritated? Only mildly. But there was also a deaf couple sitting nearby. And even they seemed put off. So I feel pretty justified.

AGGRESSIVE AGER: Mo’s never had a problem being aggressive when the ball’s in his hand; he just shoots it. But here, he seemed aggressive in other departments as well. I credited him with four bullish rebounds in the first quarter alone. Later, his defense on Brent Barry was assertive enough that Mo’s hand, um, somehow popped Barry right across the nose.

“I just have to be ready whenever they call on me,’’ Ager told me. “When the opportunity comes, I’m going to take advantage of it.’’

He got 38 minutes. That’s a start to “opportunity.’’

FISHELLANEOUS: Jerry Stackhouse was given the start at the 2 guard, with Jason Terry at backup point guard. Does this count as an indication that Avery is serious about Jet not being a starter? (Yes.) Does it indicate that Stack might have a future with the first team? (No.)… Tony Cubes is indeed good enough at the Jive. At least that’s what America says (and keep in mind, lots of Americans who figured to support him had Cowboys and Mavericks on their minds over the last two days.) Check out Ed Bark’s handling of Mark Cuban on “Dancing With The Stars.’’  ... Contrary to a report, the Mavs have not yet picked their team captains. … Dirk dinged an ankle but he’s fine. … San Antonio shot just 30 percent and never led in the game. … I don’t believe I’m being unkind when I say that Jason Terry was, in the role of backup point guard, a little out of control. … Not until there was 1:34 left in the first quarter did the words “Tim’’ and “Donaghy’’ pop into my head. Good news for the league, I say. … Remember that “15 pounds of muscle’’ Devin added this offseason? Camp has peeled away seven of those pounds. … Nice defensive sequence to end the first half. First, Jet made a steal and beat Tim Duncan to the hole to convert at the other end. Moments later, Trenton Hassell’s defensive effort forced the Spurs into a bad shot. … Another glimpse at Josh as a “point forward’’: The middle-of-the-floor clear-out play last year reserved for Stack was last night used for Josh. … Sure, the Mavs weren’t taking the outcome too seriously. Still, there was a scouting report on every Spur in each Dallas locker. And Devin was among the players who watched a DVD of a recent Spurs-Mavs game as part of his game preparation. … Jamal Sampson got the first crack at backup minutes at the 5. I would say it didn’t go well. … Eddie Jones, Erick Dampier and DJ Mbenga didn’t play. But man, DJ was dressed for success in a purple-pinstriped suit and purple shoes with little Louis Vuitton emblems all over them. I gotta get me some of those.

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