DALLAS – Dallas Mavericks starting point guard Jason Kidd left Friday night’s game against the Utah Jazz in the first quarter with a strained right calf and did not return.
Kidd, who missed four games earlier in the season with a back injury, left the court less than three minutes after the opening tip and headed for the locker room. He was soon ruled out the rest of the game.
The Mavericks were already without top scorer Dirk Nowitzki, sidelined for a fourth straight game while he improves his conditioning and gets treatment for a sore right knee.
Nowitzki has been through multiple conditioning sessions each day and could be back for Sunday’s home game against San Antonio.
“I’d think (on Saturday) we’ll know more for sure where we’re at,” coach Rick Carlisle said of Nowitzki’s status for Sunday.
Also sidelined for Dallas was starting guard Delonte West (strained right hamstring). West said he would be back for Sunday’s game.
Key reserve Vince Carter returned for the Mavericks after missing five games with a sprained left foot.
