Mavericks forward Caleb Martin was cleared on Wednesday night after being listed out on the injury report. That makes him available for Dallas against the Thunder at 9:30 PM ET.
What happened
Caleb Martin was listed as cleared at 8:19 PM ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28. His previous status was out. The injury report gave no detail and no comment with the change. Martin, a 31-year-old forward, has been dealing with a right thumb problem since at least Oct. 20. Since then he has gone back and forth between out and day-to-day. He was day-to-day on Oct. 21 and Oct. 23, and out on Oct. 20, Oct. 22, Oct. 24 and earlier on Oct. 28. Wednesday's move is the first time he has been cleared in that stretch.
What it means for the Mavericks
Dallas hosts Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Mavericks are 2-2 and eighth in the West, and they won their last game. Martin has not played yet this season. Dallas is 0-0 with him and 2-2 without him. In his absence, P.J. Washington has averaged 35.1 minutes and 15.5 points. Cooper Flagg has played 29.9 minutes and averaged 25.0 points. Zaccharie Risacher has played 30.1 minutes, and Max Christie has played 29.5. Naji Marshall has averaged 27.6 minutes on the wing, but he is out with an illness. That opens more forward minutes for Martin. How many minutes he will play has not been announced.
What to watch
The timing of the next injury report has not been announced, and no return timeline was given because he has been cleared. The open question is how Dallas uses him in his first game of the season against the Thunder. The Mavericks are still short-handed. Naji Marshall (illness), Tarik Biberovic (right heel), Dereck Lively II (right foot), Sergio de Larrea (right knee) and Santi Aldama (right knee) are all listed out.
Is Caleb Martin playing vs Thunder on Wed, Oct 28?
He is cleared and available for the 9:30 PM ET game against the Thunder on ESPN. His role and minutes have not been announced.
When will Caleb Martin be back?
He was cleared on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after missing the Mavericks' first four games with a right thumb injury. That makes him available for the game against the Thunder that night.