Mavericks’ Injured Big Men Making Progress
NEW YORK — Jason Kidd gave a short and sweet response when asked about a progress report for the Mavericks’ trio of big men who spent Friday afternoon practicing with the Texas Legends, their G League affiliate.
“They’re doing well. Positive day,” Kidd said of Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
After a couple of follow-up questions, the Mavericks coach confirmed that Davis went through a second round of five-on-five work with the Legends, while Gafford and Lively played three-on-three as they continue to ramp up toward a possible in-season return from their respective injuries.
The Mavericks’ goal is for all three injured big men to return this season while they try to compete for a berth in the postseason.
Upcoming Road Trip
The Mavericks will begin a four-game road trip Monday, starting with a back-to-back against the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks before heading south to face Orlando. They’ll conclude the trip with an awkward trek back to the Midwest to face the Chicago Bulls before returning to Dallas for another game against Brooklyn.
Kidd declared there is no timeline for any of their injured big men to return to the lineup. While Gafford (right knee sprain) and Lively (right ankle stress fracture) are further off in their progress, Davis is in “increasingly strong contention” to return from his left adductor strain as soon this week’s road trip, according to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein.
Anthony Davis’ Potential Return
Davis was upgraded to doubtful for Monday’s game in Brooklyn, marking the first time he hasn’t been listed as out since suffering the strain in his dominant debut against the Houston Rockets on Feb. 8.
The Mavericks are hopeful they can remain competitive without their “big dogs,” as Spencer Dinwiddie described it after Friday’s gritty 123-117 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
“I think it’s just trying to keep the pulse, the heartbeat going, waiting on obviously the big dogs to get back,” Dinwiddie said. “That’s all we’re trying to do right now.”
Standing and Play-in Tournament
Dallas is 11th in the West standings, trailing Phoenix for 10th despite sharing the same record of 34-37. The Suns own the tiebreaker after beating the Mavericks three times in their four-game season series. Both teams have 11 games remaining as the race for the 10th seed (or higher) continues. Seeds 7 through 10 vie in the play-in tournament after the regular season.
While the Mavericks will face a struggling Nets (23-48) squad on Monday, the Suns will have a tougher task with Milwaukee (40-30) visiting Phoenix the same night. P.J. Washington admitted he’s keeping a close eye on the standings as the final weeks of the regular season wind down.
“All the time,” Washington said. “That’s all we can really pay attention to right now. With that being said, we can only take it one game at a time. Obviously, we know we’re fighting with [Phoenix], but we have to keep the task on the game ahead of us. We can’t overlook anybody right now. We got to go out there and fight every second of every game.”
Talent and Competitiveness
Even if the Mavericks run out of time and their big men aren’t able to return, Washington is under the impression that there’s still enough talent on the team to compete.
“I tell the guys every time in the huddle, ‘This is all we got and I feel like this is all we need,’” Washington said. ”No matter who’s on the floor, we feel like we can go out there and play at a high level. I just try to encourage my teammates and put confidence in them as well. Guys are coming out to play no matter if we win, lose or draw. That’s all you can ask for.”
Adding Davis back to the lineup would surely increase the Mavericks’ chances to contend for a play-in spot, but the Mavericks will begin their East Coast road trip without him.
“It’s a hold-down-the-fort mentality,” Dinwiddie said. “Stay in striking distance. You get a top-75 guy back. Who knows what can happen?”
Conclusion
The Mavericks are working hard to keep their postseason hopes alive, and the return of their injured big men would be a significant boost to their chances. With a tough road trip ahead, the team will need to stay focused and competitive if they want to make a push for the play-in tournament.
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FAQs
Q: When will Anthony Davis return from his injury?
A: There is no official timeline for Davis’ return, but he is listed as doubtful for Monday’s game and could potentially return during the upcoming road trip.
Q: How are the Mavericks doing in the standings?
A: The Mavericks are currently 11th in the West standings, trailing Phoenix for 10th despite sharing the same record of 34-37.
Q: What is the play-in tournament?
A: The play-in tournament is a tournament held after the regular season, featuring seeds 7 through 10. The winners of the tournament will earn a spot in the playoffs.
