DALLAS -- Rookie Devin Harris, not veteran Jason Terry, will open the season as the Dallas Mavericks' starting point guard.

The Mavericks acquired Harris, the fifth overall pick in the draft, to eventually replace Steve Nash as the leader of their fast-paced offense. When Nash left in free agency and Dallas acquired Terry from Atlanta to help ease Harris into the lineup.

But Harris was so impressive in the preseason that coach Don Nelson decided to hand over the reins from the start -- Tuesday night at home against Sacramento.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity and trying to make the most out of it," Harris said.