Rick Carlisle said he thought fatigue played a significant part in the Mavericks' fourth-quarter meltdown in Game 1, and he did something about it in Game 2.

Carlisle shuttled players in and out during a first half when 10 Mavericks played at least six minutes. The combinations got a bit unusual. Dirk Nowitzki and James Singleton were on the court with three guards at one point.

But the results were good, and the heavy lifters preserved some energy for the second half.

"I thought fatigue had a lot to do with" Game 1, Carlisle said. "We're going to have to use our bench more liberally and do everything possible to keep our team energized for 48 minutes."

Ryan Hollins and James Singleton, neither of whom played big roles in Game 1, were pivotal in keeping the Mavericks in the game.

The Mavericks' depth was put to the test further when Josh Howard left the game in the first half and did not return in the second because of a sprained right ankle.

Trouble for Karl: The NBA will review comments Denver's George Karl made in defense of Kenyon Martin, a source confirmed Tuesday.

"Where Amazing Happens" is the NBA's marketing theme for the playoffs. Karl used a variation of that theme to describe his thoughts on the league's decision to fine Martin $25,000 for his foul on Nowitzki in Game 1.

"It's amazing," Karl said. "The NBA's amazing.

"That's all I'm going to say, other than I think it's way out of line and crazy."

If you really thought that was all he would say, you don't know George Karl.

"I'm confused," he said. "I saw some hits in the Chicago-Boston series, some hits in the Orlando and Miami series ...

"This is not on the top of the list, in my observation. I think it's wrong and Kenyon didn't deserve a $25,000 fine."

Three coaches were fined in the first round for questioning specific plays or league rulings.

Fine deserved, says Dampier: Erick Dampier said he was not surprised by the $25,000 fine Martin got for his flagrant foul on Nowitzki. "I'm sure if any one of us would have done the same thing, they probably would have fined us, too," Dampier said.

Sister defends Martin: Martin's reputation has been a hot issue, and his sister came to his defense on a radio show Tuesday.

Tamara Martin took exception to Martin being called a "thug" by media members, including by radio hosts on The Michael Irvin Show in Dallas.

"He's a human being that's doing his job," she said. "And it's really funny to me they are labeling him as a thug. If he was playing soft, then he's not worth the money that they're paying him, just like we [the Mavericks ] do with Dampier - because he doesn't go in hard and he's not physical that he's not worth the money that we're paying him."

Rockets don't shock Mavs: The Mavericks weren't all that surprised that Houston went up 1-0 on the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Just like Yao Ming said, it's where amazing happens," Dampier said.

Staff writer David Moore contributed to this report.