In a game that perpetuated the reputation that preseason basketball is bad, boring and not a very wise investment for fans, the Mavericks were desperate for a bright spot.

Then, rookie Jose Barea stepped up and gave the Mavericks something to think about.

The Puerto Rican guard has captured the coaching staff's fancy with the simple fact that he is a pure point guard. He has piled up a dozen assists in the first two preseason games, including five in 19 minutes in Thursday's deplorable 111-90 loss to Sacramento at American Airlines Center.

"They didn't bring me in here to shoot the ball," said Barea, a 6-foot product of Northeastern University in Boston. "They have plenty of shooters here. They brought me here to create and make things happen. It's been a tremendous experience."

Barea is battling point guard Darius Washington, shooter Pat Carroll and forward Ndudi Ebi for the 15th roster spot. Barea may be edging in front just by the way he's running the club.

"He's a feisty little player," coach Avery Johnson said.

That doesn't put him above the letter of the Mavericks' law. On the first possession when Barea was in the game, he allowed a wide-open jump shot by Kings' guard Mike Bibby.

A few moments later, Barea was back on the bench.

But he rebounded from that rough start, getting seven points and all of his assists in the second half.

"This is what I've been fighting for all my life," Barea said. "It's been a dream to be here."

Barea is a good friend of Carlos Arroyo, who plays for Orlando. He gave Barea some advice before he arrived in Mavericks' camp.

"He just said to keep doing what I do and things would fall in place," Barea said.

So far, he has, and they are.

Buckner to have MRI: Greg Buckner took a hard hit to his knee in the first quarter Thursday night.

Buckner, who clipped knees with a Kings player, will have an MRI today as a precaution but does not expect to miss any preseason time.

"It was one of those fluke things," he said.

Stackhouse has no worries: The soreness in Jerry Stackhouse's knees that kept him out of his second preseason game Thursday night are nowhere near as severe as the pain that kept the 6-6 guard out for two months last season.

"He's much better now compared to last year," Avery Johnson said. "If he was, hypothetically, a three out of 10 [last preseason], he's somewhere around seven now. We want to make sure he gets back to eight or nine. We think he's out of danger when he gets to that level."

JOHN F. RHODES/DMN

Josh Howard hangs from the rim after a dunk against the Kings. Howard finished with 14 points, but the Mavericks fell to Sacramento, 111-90, in their preseason home opener.

Stackhouse said his health is fine and referred all other comments to Johnson.

Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki sat out his second exhibition and may stay behind when the team goes to Milwaukee Saturday night.

Devin Harris, out with a strained left hamstring, said he was not concerned about the injury being a long-term problem.

"If it was the playoffs, I'd be playing," Harris said. "But right now, there's no reason."

E-mail esefko@dallasnews.com

Preseason: Mavericks (0-2) at Milwaukee (0-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday (no TV; ESPN-FM 103.3, KFLC-AM 1270 in Spanish)