Mavericks forward Josh Howard will be limited until well into the New Year.

Howard was inactive on Saturday night as coach Rick Carlisle wants to integrate the forward back into the lineup slowly.

He missed 18 of the team's first 21 games while rehabilitating from left ankle surgery.

"We feel it's the right thing to do from a managing situation, and we don't have another back-to-back until late in the month," Carlisle said. "The hope is that by that time, he'll be able to do back-to-backs, but we'll have to wait and see."

Howard is averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.