"Charlotte Bobcats guards Shaun Livingston and Gerald Henderson both say they should be healthy enough to play in Wednesday's season-opener in Dallas.

Livingston fully practiced Monday, for the first time in about three weeks, when the Bobcats held a public scrimmage that drew about 8,000 fans to Time Warner Cable Arena. Livingston has had chronic pain in his left knee, owing to a severe injury he suffered in 2007.

Livingston recently had an injection in the joint intended to relieve pain for up to six months. He says he feels much better and expects to play against the Mavericks after missing all eight exhibitions.

"Hopefully the injection has kicked in and I'll have the same pain level, which is very minimal," Livingston said. "If I feel this good on Wednesday, I'll be a happy man."

The Bobcats are counting on Livingston to back up D.J. Augustin at point guard, and guaranteed him $7million over the next two seasons to sign as a free agent.

Livingston said he's felt bad about how little he's been able to practice with his new teammates."