Mavericks guard Jett Howard was upgraded to probable for Saturday's game against the Spurs, according to the injury report. He had been listed as out with a right calf issue.
What happened
Howard (calf) was upgraded to probable ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Spurs, according to the injury report posted at 7:21 PM ET on Oct 24. The report's status line still reads Out, and the previous status was also Out, but the comment describes the move to probable. No further detail on the injury was given. His status has shifted often this week. He went from day-to-day to out on Oct 21, back to day-to-day, then out again on Oct 23, and out again on Oct 24. The right calf issue has kept him out of the first two games. No return date has been announced.
What it means for the Mavericks
Dallas hosts the Spurs on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET. The Mavericks are 1-1, ninth in the standings, and come in on a one-game winning streak. Howard has not played this season, so they are 0-0 with him and 1-1 without him. Last season he appeared in 55 games and averaged 12.6 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists. That is bench depth on the wing. In the first two games, minutes went to Max Christie (33.2), P.J. Washington (31.9), Naji Marshall (31.0), Zaccharie Risacher (29.4) and Marcus Sasser (25.3). Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg are both listed out.
What to watch
The first thing to watch is whether Howard is active for the 8:00 PM ET tip. Probable is not a guarantee, and his status has changed several times in four days. No expected return date has been announced, so the next injury report will be the clearest update on his calf. Dallas is also without Irving, Caleb Martin, Tarik Biberovic, Dereck Lively II, Flagg and Santi Aldama, all listed out. Howard's availability could matter for how Dallas fills its guard and wing minutes in the games ahead.
Is Jett Howard playing vs the Spurs?
He is listed as probable for Saturday's game against the Spurs at 8:00 PM ET, per the injury report's comment. The report's status line still shows Out, so the pregame update is the one to check.
When will Jett Howard be back?
No return date has been announced. He has missed Dallas's first two games with a right calf issue, and the upgrade to probable points to a possible return Saturday.