Carlisle coaches Mavs vs. Wizards after COVID-19 scare

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle returned for Saturday's meeting with the Washington Wizards after missing the team's last game due to a COVID-19 scare that turned out to be a false positive.

Assistant coach Jamahl Mosley led the club during Friday's 99-86 road win over the New York Knicks after Carlisle tested positive earlier in the day and needed to quarantine at the team hotel.

Carlisle, who said he's been fully vaccinated since January, confirmed Friday afternoon that he produced a positive test.

"I was pretty sure this was a false positive and I’m grateful that it turned out that way," Carlisle told The New York Times' Marc Stein.

Carlisle was forced to miss Friday's game because the results of a third test weren't available ahead of tipoff.

Four Mavs players have tested positive for COVID-19 this season, and Jalen Brunson and Willie Cauley-Stein have missed time due to the league's health and safety protocols. Cauley-Stein remains out for Saturday's contest in Washington, and he hasn't played since March 18.