Toronto Raptors (3-2) at Dallas Mavericks (3-2)
It's been a long-awaited sight, but Saturday night it could become a reality.
After missing the entire preseason and the first five games of the regular season (ankle), Josh Howard could return to the Dallas Mavericks' lineup against the Toronto Raptors. The swingman will be counted upon instantly with Quinton Ross (bruised lower back) questionable and Drew Gooden (strained rib cage) likely out of the game.
"It's great to have Josh Howard back tonight," sixth man Jason Terry said. "He's probable. In the NFL, there's questionable, probable and doubtful. He's not doubtful, so you can take the other two, probable and questionable. Hopefully he'll be out there tonight, and if he is, then that's going to be the lineup that we've been looking to see since Training Camp."
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Josh Howard is expected to make his season debut against the Raptors
"We're looking to get healthier, we're working to get better," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "We've got three or four guys that are hurt right now, so we're going to continue to work on getting those guys feeling better and work on getting our game better."
Though the Mavs coaching staff is keeping it secret how much game time Howard may see, No. 5's impact has been sorely missed. After the team gave away a late lead and eventually lost in overtime to the New Orleans Hornets in their last game, the squad could use Howard's ability to create easy offense back on the court. The Mavericks are hopeful that Howard's insertion into the lineup takes the sour taste of the last loss out of their mouths.
"It was a tough lost to swallow. I haven't really slept too much the last couple of nights. But tonight's a great opportunity, here at home," Terry said.
Tonight the Mavericks matchup with one of the most versatile and offensively-driven lineups in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors are controlled by Jose Calderon at the point, and then bolstered by Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh running an inside-outside post game.
"He (Calderon) doesn't make mistakes," Terry said of the point guard. "For a guy that's still primarily young in this league, he does a great job of running his team. They look to him. He's their leader, but I think we have a pretty great leader ourselves with Jason Kidd. That's going to be a great matchup tonight."
The Raptors have also added newcomer Hedo Turkoglu to the team, a do-it-all forward that was a key contributor for the Orlando Magic last season when they made a run to the NBA Finals.
"He (Turkoglu) just gives them another play-maker that's 6-9 or 6-10. He can put it on the floor and make threes. He can get guys shots. He's a weapon," Carlisle said.
Dallas host Toronto at the American Airlines Center on Saturday night, with tickets still available. For ticket information call (214) 747-MAVS. The game will air on KTXA 21, KTXA 21 HD and HD NET at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The Mavs have also introduced the “MavsU” program, designed to offer college and university students an opportunity to attend Mavs games at a discounted rate. The Mavericks and Genghis Grill have teamed to offer discounted tickets to students for many upcoming games.
To purchase any MavsU ticket and receive a coupon for a free bowl at Genghis simply call 214-747-MAVS or visit Mavs.com.
Follow Mavs.com’s Earl K. Sneed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/EarlKSneed.
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