DALLAS – The Mavericks’ roster is close to being whole again.
Center Brendan Haywood and guard Delonte West participated in Monday’s practice and will be listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Houston Rockets. Haywood (sprained right knee) has missed the last five games. West (fractured right ring finger) has been out since Feb. 15.
“We didn’t do a lot of live contact things today, but they went through a lot of other stuff,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “So they’re inching closer.”
Haywood’s status for Tuesday’s rematch with the Rockets will likely be determined after shootaround. West realistically won’t be ready until at least Thursday’s game against the Miami Heat.
West, whose bone popped out of the skin when he was injured trying to make a steal against the Nuggets, said he might not be able to return until next week. He knows he’ll have to deal with significant pain.
“I ain’t going to lie to you, that [expletive] hurts,” West said. "I guess it’s the mental thing of just feeling like you’re not going to break it again. Ever time you take some serious contact on it, pain is a rude awakening for you. But like I say, the more I do it, the more I dig in the rice bucket, and work on it, crank on it, get the motion back, the more I’m able to do.
"I think maybe a nice, solid, good week of theraphy and strengthening, I should be back out there."