March 26, 2009

Josh to Test Ankle

No. 5 will be testing his ankle during Thursday's practice, which should help define a possible return date. The Mavs hope to have him back in the lineup by the start of April in order to mold No. 5 back into game-shape for the playoffs.

"If we want to beat anybody in the playoffs, we need a healthy Josh," forward Dirk Nowitzki said. "There's no question. We need his slicing, his ability to do something on the weak side."

"Without him, it's going to be tough to win."

MAVS WIN TWO IN A ROW
With victories against the Indiana Pacers and the Golden State Warriors, the Mavs are now 43-28 and 15 games over .500 for the second time this season.

Dallas has won nine straight at American Airlines Center and are 26-4 at home since late November. This bodes well for a team with seven of their final 11 games at home.

The Mavs still holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, but are only three games behind Houston for third.

NEXT UP
Friday, Dallas hosts the Denver Nuggets (46-26) and then travel to Cleveland on Sunday to face LeBron James and the Cavaliers (58-13).

RELATED STORIES
Dallas Mavericks walk over Warriors, 128-106 (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 26, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/...
Nowitzki, Terry, Barea lead Mavs past Warriors (AP, Mar. 25, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/games/20090325/GSWDAL/recap.html
Dampier a possible 'go' for tonight (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 25, 2009)
http://mavsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/03/dampier-a-possible-go-fo...
Dallas Mavericks could home in on better playoff seed (Dallas Morning News, Mar. 25, 2009)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/...