Mavs' Coach Avery Johnson has defended his decision to sit Jason Kidd for the final 34.5 seconds against San Antonio on Thursday, and he is surprised about the suggestions that he and Kidd have deeper issues, the Dallas Morning News is reporting.

"I'm not talking about the surprise of him not being in, but taking it further. [Things] like I really don't like him, or we're not getting along ? I don't have confidence in him ? assuming those things," Johnson said.

"The disappointing part is when you have negative journalism and talk about how we're not working out well together, or we overreacted to a situation where I didn't have him in the game for a certain stretch of the game, and then it poisons the mind of people."