Desmond

Mason

Mike James will start at point guard, Michael Redd at shooting guard, Keith Van Horn at small forward, Joe Smith at power forward and either Zaza Pachulia or Dan Gadzuric at center. Mo Williams is the ninth man.

The small lineup features Joe Smith moving to center, with Keith Van Horn and Mason at forwards and Michael Redd and Mo Williams at guards. This lineup gets Milwaukee’s best scorers on the floor at the same time and was effective in a late comeback win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday. Mason is averaging 17 points and four boards through three games this season and is a leading candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award so far.

Mason’s night was highlighted by three acrobatic, ceiling-scraping dunks. He also managed to get to the foul line 14 times and sink 12 of his shots. On the season Mason is averaging 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists -- probably not good enough for Sixth Man consideration, but a boon to the Bucks nonetheless.

X-rays and other tests conducted on his wrist Thursday were negative.

Keith Van Horn will make his Bucks debut against the Clippers, but coach Terry Porter will use him as a reserve until he learns the system.

Mason’s confident that Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson will help to take some of the defensive heat off of him, and is promising a return to form this year. He may be right, but we’ll believe it when we see it.

He was 12-for-12 from the line. Mason’s career high in a real game was 27 points, established in the final regular-season game last season.

It was like a CBA game in Minnesota tonight.

Mason returned and finished with eight points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes.

Mason had 14 points in 25 minutes before departing.