Don Nelson and the Dallas Mavericks had a difficult practice  on Christmas, reconvening after a two-day break, and if any of the players had forgotten they went into halftime after a 13-point loss at Atlanta.

"I was mad at them," Nelson said. "I hold a grudge. I was still mad at them for the performance in Atlanta. So I wasn't really asking how they felt. It was more how I felt. I believe they understood after the Atlanta game that I was not a happy guy."