Naji Marshall (illness) and Sergio de Larrea (right knee) were upgraded off the Out list Thursday, both aimed at Friday's home game against Houston. Santi Aldama (right knee) and Tarik Biberovic (right heel) stay Out with the same Friday target, while Dereck Lively II's right foot points to Nov. 2 against the Kings.
Help Is On The Way
Dallas hammered Oklahoma City 120-96 without Marshall, de Larrea, Aldama, Biberovic or Lively. The bench still put up 43, and Zaccharie Risacher went 5-of-6 for 13. De Larrea led everyone with 21 against the Spurs on Oct. 24, so he is no spare part. Even two of those five back on Friday would make a rotation that already held up deeper still.
Houston Brings The Heat
The Rockets are 5-0 and won the first meeting 128-110. They come in thinner, though: Steven Adams (right calf) and Marcus Smart (left forearm) are Out, and Alperen Sengun has a back issue that is being tracked game to game. Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. are not on the injury report. Both teams come in on one day of rest after three games in seven days, so the schedule gives neither side an edge.
Read The Plus-Minus
Irving scored 15 on 6-of-14, nothing loud, and Dallas still won his 27 minutes by 25 after his knee was cleared. Cooper Flagg carried the scoring with 26 points, 8 assists and zero turnovers. The open question is the paint. With Lively out, Daniel Gafford closed Wednesday's game, and if Sengun plays, Dallas has to hold up inside against a front line that ran it over a week ago.
Will Naji Marshall play against the Rockets?
He was upgraded off the Out list with an illness on Oct. 29, and Friday is his target return date. His status for tipoff is not final yet.
When do the Mavericks play the Rockets next?
Friday, Oct. 30, at home in Dallas, and the game counts in Cup play. Houston won the first meeting 128-110 on Oct. 21.
