(Mavs.com)
Update (12:51 PM CT): According to multiple reports, Mavs guards Wes Matthews and Deron Williams have told reporters they will both play tonight against be Chicago Bulls.
The latest word from Dallas is that the Mavs’ $70 million prized, free agent shooting guard Wes Matthews could be looking at a return to the floor as soon as tonight in the Mavs final preseason game against the Chicago Bulls, and he could be accompanied by starting point guard Deron Williams who has been dealing with a calf strain since before training camp started.
The official injury report by Dallas Mavericks Public Relations has listed both Matthews and Williams as questionable for tonight’s game, but at this point, all signs point to a likely debut for the starting back court duo. They both took the court during Thursday’s practice, playing full-court, five-on-five according to a report by the Dallas Morning News.
“If they wake up feeling good, there’s a good chance,” Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters during Thursday’s practice.
For Matthews, it would be quite the comeback story. It’s been just a little over seven months since he tore his left Achilles in a game against the Dallas Mavericks while playing with the Portland Trailblazers on March 5, 2015. Although it may ultimately come down to a proper evaluation by the Mavs medical staff and team doctors, this is certainly encouraging news. The original time table had Matthews recovery at eight months.
For Deron Williams, his calf injury has always been somewhat of a mystery. He was originally expected to be out for just a few days with camp started, but appeared to have suffered a setback along the way, that even led to Carlisle to announce he would be out for the entire preseason earlier this week.
The other three-fifths of the Mavs eventual starting lineup, Dirk Nowitzki (rest), Chandler Parsons (knee) and JaVale McGee (fibula) are not expected to play tonight.
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