Re: Mavs' Howard sprains ankle Mavs' Howard sprains ankle12:01 AM CST on Friday, February 24, 2006By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning NewsLess than two hours earlier, Memphis coach Mike Fratello was gauging the Mavericks' race with San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference."Probably the one thing that seems to always separate people in a race like that is, can one stay away from an injury?" Fratello said Thursday evening. "That's the first thing – can people remain healthy?"Which is why the Mavericks were holding their breath when Josh Howard had to be helped off the court with a right ankle sprain late in the first quarter against Fratello's Grizzlies.Howard missed eight games earlier this season with a sprain to the same ankle. This time, he had the ankle rewrapped in the locker room and returned to the game. But he was unable to continue in the second half. X-rays were negative."I stepped on [Keith Van Horn] foot and turned my ankle," Howard said. "When I got back in the game, I couldn't cut. We'll see how it is tomorrow."Howard isn't expected to be out long term, but the injury was a reminder of just how fragile things can be in a heated race.Fratello has seen the Mavericks four times this season and the Spurs twice. He's qualified to analyze the stretch battle that will end with one team as Southwest Division winners and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and the other one as the No. 4 seed and a possible first-round playoff opponent for Memphis."They have similarities," Fratello said. "They can be big. They can be small. They have great depth. They have veterans. They have stars. They are extremely well coached. And they are both really outstanding organizations."It may come down to the breaks. Who has the scheduling advantage? Who has more back-to-backs? They're just very close."Odd scene: A rare situation late in the first quarter resulted in points being temporarily taken off the board for the Mavericks.The scoreboard had the Mavericks in the penalty, but the official scoring book had Memphis with only three team fouls. When Devin Harris was fouled with 48.4 seconds left in the quarter, he made the two free throws.[Click image for a larger version] JOHN F. RHODES/DMNJOHN F. RHODES/DMNDirk Nowitzki drives to the basket in front of Memphis' Mike Miller in the first half. Nowitzki scored a game-high 31 points.But after much discussion, the points were taken off, and the Mavericks were given the ball after it was determined the foul was only Memphis' fourth.It mattered not. Dirk Nowitzki scored on the possession.Happy anniversary: It was a year ago today that Keith Van Horn was acquired from Milwaukee in the last trade the Mavericks have taken part in.Thursday's deadline passed as expected, without the Mavericks doing anything.Van Horn said last season's deadline trade caught him by surprise."I remember I was just sitting at home [at the deadline], I got a call, and I thought it was one of my friends," he said. "But they told me I was coming to Dallas. It was at the last second and kind of a surprise. But I fit in pretty well, and I've had a good time."Briefly: After Thursday morning's shootaround, Avery Johnson wanted to know why Troy Aikman bought the engines for his new NASCAR team from Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. "What is that the equivalent for the Mavericks, of me buying my engine from who?" he asked. Maybe like stealing a center from the Cleveland Cavaliers. ... Saturday's game against Toronto starts at noon.http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...s.1cab2448.html
