Mavs' Jason Kidd eyes Saturday return

Updated: January 14, 2012, 12:20 AM ET
By Jeff Caplan | ESPNDallas.com

DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd missed a fourth consecutive game Friday with a lower back injury, but coach Rick Carlisle said the hope is for Kidd to play in Saturday's home game as a tune-up before a big trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers and Clippers.

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Kidd participated in the morning's shootaround and stayed late to take extra jump shots before Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Carlisle didn't get specific about Kidd's progress but said he looked better since the team left the White House on Monday. Kidd returned to Dallas for treatment while the Mavs swept their road trip at Detroit and Boston.

Kidd, 38, suffered back spasms last week against the San Antonio Spurs and has sat out the last three games. Dallas won all three with Delonte West starting in Kidd's place.

"When you lose Jason Kidd you know right then and there it's going to have to be a collective effort," Mavs guard Jason Terry said. "Delonte has done a great job of coming out and setting the tone defensively, he's leading by example and he's running the team well offensively."

West, installed as the starting shooting guard in the second half of the season opener, averaged 10.0 points, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals with just six combined turnovers in the three games as the starting point guard.

The Mavericks begin their sixth back-to-back of the season against the Bucks and play the Sacramento Kings on Saturday.

Jeff Caplan covers the Mavericks for ESPNDallas.com.

Jeff Caplan

ESPNDallas.com
Jeff Caplan joined ESPNDallas.com in December 2009. Jeff covers the Mavericks, Rangers and colleges. He has a wealth of experience in the area, covering multiple beats in his 11-plus years with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

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