The Dallas Mavericks may finally be nearing some relief on the injury front, as Anthony Davis continues working toward a return after missing nearly a month of action. The star big man has been sidelined since aggravating a calf strain on October 29, and Dallas has struggled to stay afloat without him anchoring the interior.
According to Marc Stein, Davis is scheduled to practice on Wednesday as part of the evaluation process that will determine whether he is cleared for game action. It would be his first full-on-court participation since the injury, marking the biggest step forward in his recovery to date.
Dallas faces the Lakers on Friday in Los Angeles before taking on the Clippers on Saturday, and the hope is that Davis will be available at some point during the trip. His return would give the Mavericks a much-needed boost defensively and on the glass, two areas that have suffered greatly in his absence.
“He’s working to get back,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said, reinforcing the team’s optimism that Davis is closing in on a return.
Davis, 32, has missed all but five games for the Mavericks in what has become an increasingly desperate situation. Since trading Luka Doncic for him last February, the franchise has fallen on hard times. Despite recently firing their GM, they are still just 14th in the West at 5-14.
To make matters even worse, the Mavericks will be down another key big man for at least a few games. According to Stein, Dereck Lively II (foot) is set to miss the next seven to ten days as he is evaluated for swelling and discomfort. He has already been ruled out for the next three games, leaving the Mavericks even more vulnerable in the frontcourt.
In several ways, this has been a season of hell for Dallas and the only way out is via trade. With multiple teams already preparing their best packages, Davis will be a regular and frequent name in the rumors leading up to this season’s deadline. In fact, several realistic packages have already been suggested by fans and analysts.
Until a trade comes, however, the Mavericks must stay locked in to the mission at hand. After their defeat against the Heat on Monday, they will be looking ahead to their three-game road trip. It starts with a back-to-back set in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers before a visit to Ball Arena against the Nuggets. It will be a short but difficult stretch that could make or break the season for Dallas.
Regardless of what happens next, the Mavs will need Davis healthy to have any chance of a playoff appearance. He anchors their defense, and his absence has robbed them of their entire identity on the court.
If Davis can get through practice without setbacks, the Mavericks will finally have a chance to steady themselves after weeks of chaos. Nothing about this season has gone according to plan, but getting their star big man back on the floor at least gives them a fighting chance. Now it comes down to health, focus, and whether this group can respond before the standings bury them for good.
