Caleb Martin was listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Miami Heat, a late-day update that keeps his first appearance of the season on hold. He has yet to play while recovering from a right thumb sprain, and the doubtful tag is his first of the year.
The status matters because Martin's availability would affect the Mavericks' rotation at a time when minutes are already in play. Nicholas Rodriguez said Martin was listed as doubtful for Monday's game against the Miami Heat, making the update the clearest sign yet that a return is drawing closer even if it is not guaranteed for Monday itself.
If Martin is ultimately ruled out, Zaccharie Risacher, Marcus Sasser and Morez Johnson Jr. could see more court time. Naji Marshall was already ruled out because of illness, which adds to the uncertainty around how the Mavericks will manage their available minutes.
That leaves Martin in a familiar but important holding pattern: close enough to a comeback to draw a doubtful designation, but not cleared enough to be counted on. For now, the question is not whether he is nearing a return. It is whether that return comes Monday or waits for the next chance.
