Anthony Davis nearing return after calf strain, practicing Wednesday. Mavericks eagerly await his impact, a key piece for their road trip surge.
MIAMI — The Dallas Mavericks may soon get the boost they’ve been missing for nearly a month, as Anthony Davis moves closer to returning from a left calf strain that has sidelined him for 14 consecutive games.
Davis was upgraded to doubtful before being ruled out of Monday’s matchup against the Miami Heat, but the more telling development came pregame, when head coach Jason Kidd said the 14-year veteran is expected to participate in the team’s next practice on Wednesday — a key milestone after weeks of steady progress.
Kidd used Monday’s availability to outline where Davis stands and why Dallas has been careful with the timetable.
“He continues to get better,” Kidd said before tipoff. “He’s working to get back. I anticipate him at practice this week.”
The Mavericks have emphasized caution throughout Davis’ recovery, mindful of how unpredictable and sensitive calf strains can be for players who rely heavily on burst and mobility. Kidd reinforced that approach, even as Davis edges closer to returning.
“Anytime you have a calf strain, you have to be cautious, but he’s worked extremely hard,” Kidd said. “The next step is practice on Wednesday and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Before the injury, Davis appeared in the first five games of the season, averaging 20.8 points and 10.2 rebounds while giving the Mavericks an immediate interior anchor on both ends of the floor. Dallas went 2-3 in those contests and, entering Monday, had gone 3-10 without him — a stretch marked by inconsistent rim protection, difficult rebounding nights and a heavy workload for the remaining frontcourt.
Davis suffered the injury on Oct. 29 and has not played since, with the Mavericks opting for a gradual build-up to avoid a setback. The schedule now offers a rare opening for progress, as Dallas has three full days between games before continuing its road trip Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers and Saturday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Inside the locker room, the anticipation for Davis’ return is unmistakable. Rookie forward Cooper Flagg said the entire group understands how dramatically Davis’ presence reshapes the rotation and the team’s ability to stabilize defensively.
“It’ll be huge,” Flagg said. “Obviously, A.D. is one of the greats and an incredible player. He brings so much for us on both sides of the ball. It’ll be incredible to have him back.”
Flagg added that the Mavericks are eager but remain aligned with the medical staff’s plan.
“We don’t want to rush him, but obviously, he’s going to be such a huge help for us, being a leader,” he said. “It’ll be huge.”
P.J. Washington expressed a similar sentiment, noting how rare it has been for Dallas to field a fully healthy roster.
“It would be amazing,” Washington said. “I wish everybody was healthy — Live (Dereck Lively II), AD, Kai (Kyrie Irving) — those are game-changers for us. But obviously, we’re just trying to keep the ship afloat.”
For now, Wednesday’s practice marks the next checkpoint. If Davis responds well, the Mavericks could soon see their frontcourt finally begin to resemble the version they envisioned at the start of the season.