Mavs' J.J. Barea accepts apology

Andrew Bynum and J.J. Barea have reached a peace accord.

The Los Angeles Lakers 285-pound center, who took out his frustrations on the Dallas Mavericks' backup point guard with a vicious mid-air forearm shiver that got him ejected from Game 4 and subsequently suspended and fined, publicly apologized Tuesday and then phoned Barea, leaving an apology on his voice mail.

Barea, fortunate only to have slightly bruised ribs and a bruised left hand after crashing to the floor early in the fourth quarter of the series-clincher, said he accepts the big man's apology.

"I believe him," Barea said Wednesday after the Mavericks' first full practice since earning a berth in the Western Conference finals. "He regrets fouling me. He regrets what he did. I think he means well and it's just a mistake that can happen to anybody."

Barea said the incident won't keep him from being aggressive and attacking the paint.

"I'm going to keep driving and I'm going to keep getting hit," Barea said. "That's what happens."