National Basketball Association

Dallas F Howard inactive against Charlotte

Published Dec. 17, 2009 3:46 a.m. ET

foxsports

Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard is inactive for Saturday night's game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Coach Rick Carlisle is resting Howard, who returned Tuesday night after missing 13 games to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left ankle, as precaution after Dallas played at Miami on Friday night.

``We feel it's the right thing to do,'' Carlisle said. ``We don't have another back-to-back until late in the month. The hope is that by that time he'll be able to do back-to-backs. But we'll wait and see.''

Howard missed the first five games of the season recovering from the surgery, then lasted 2 1/2 games before being sidelined again. He is averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds this season.