Mavericks guard Jett Howard has been ruled out for Wednesday's game at Houston with a right calf injury, after he was listed as day-to-day. Dallas will be without him, and the injury report also lists four other Mavericks as out.
What happened
Jett Howard has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Rockets. The injury report moved the 23-year-old Mavericks guard from day-to-day to out at 7:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The injury is to his right calf. The report's comment reads: "Howard (calf) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Rockets." His status has changed several times in the past week. He was cleared from day-to-day on Tuesday, Oct. 20, then listed day-to-day again the same day with the calf. On Oct. 14, he was day-to-day with an illness.
What it means for the Mavericks
Dallas plays at Houston tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Mavericks are 0-0 and have not played a regular-season game yet, so there is no record with or without Howard. Last season he played 55 games off the bench. He averaged 5.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 12.6 minutes. Dallas has guards to cover those minutes. In games without Howard, Max Christie has averaged 29.1 minutes and 12.3 points, Brandon Williams 22.2 minutes and 13.0 points, and Klay Thompson 21.7 minutes and 11.7 points. Caleb Martin, Tarik Biberovic, Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama are also out.
What to watch
The injury report gives Oct. 23 as Howard's expected return, two days after the Houston game. No other timeline has been announced. The next injury report will show whether he comes off the out list in time. Dallas also has four other players out: Martin with a right thumb injury, Biberovic with a right heel injury, Lively with a right foot injury and Aldama with a knee injury.
Is Jett Howard playing against the Rockets on Wednesday, Oct. 21?
No. The injury report has ruled him out of Wednesday's 8:30 p.m. ET game at Houston with a right calf injury.
When will Jett Howard be back?
The injury report gives Oct. 23 as his expected return. No other timeline has been announced.