Mavericks won't have Gooden, Thomas on Saturday against Toronto

Mavericks forwards Josh Howard and Tim Thomas practiced Friday, but forward Drew Gooden didn't practice. Howard and Thomas are listed as day-to-day, and Gooden is listed as questionable for Saturday night's home game against Toronto. Thomas and Gooden won't play against Toronto and Howard won't likely make his season debut against the Raptors. Howard is still recovering from off-season ankle surgery. "He's getting closer," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said Friday of Howard. "We'll make an announcement on when he'll play, and there's no announcement yet." That means center Erick Dampier will need to continue to play well as he'll have to contend with Lincoln High product Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani.