DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks may have the services of two of their key players when they hit the road to take on the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Starting point guard Dennis Smith Jr. missed this past Saturday’s game against the Boston Celtics with a sprained right wrist, but was back on the practice court Monday. Meanwhile, backup center Dwight Powell missed last Wednesday contest against Brooklyn and also the game against the Celtics with a left knee effusion.
“He had a good day today, so I’m very encouraged,” coach Rick Carlisle said of Smith. “We’ll see how tomorrow goes, but things are looking very positive.”
As far as Powell goes, Carlisle said the fifth-year veteran has taken major steps towards getting back on the court again.
“Dwight’s doing well,” Carlisle said. “He participated in non-contact (practice drills) today. I’m hoping to get him into contact things tomorrow and then we’ll see where we are come Wednesday.
“But things are going in a good direction. It’s just all going to be how he recovers in the next two days, but the signs are positive.”
The Mavs have won seven of their last nine games and are 9-9 on the season heading into the two-game road trip that starts with the contest against the Rockets. The road trip ends Friday in Los Angeles when the Mavs play the Lakers before they return home to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
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