The Dallas Mavericks head into Philadelphia on Saturday night with a few key names lighting up the injury report - most notably Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. The big question: will Davis be in uniform against the Sixers? All signs point to yes.
Davis is officially listed as probable, which in NBA terms usually means fans can expect to see him on the floor barring any last-minute setbacks. He’s been under the weather, but this would be his second straight game back after missing time against the Jazz. That’s good news for a Mavericks squad still trying to find its rhythm.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - Dallas hasn’t exactly been lighting the league on fire. A 5-5 record over their last 10 games isn’t going to make headlines, but it’s a noticeable step up from their rocky start. And Davis has been a huge part of that turnaround, especially on the defensive end.
Despite dealing with injuries throughout the season - he’s already missed six games - Davis has been a stabilizing force when he’s healthy. Against Detroit, his offensive numbers were modest (15 points), but his defensive presence was anything but. He pulled down 14 rebounds and swatted away three shots, anchoring the paint like we’ve seen him do so many times before.
On the season, Davis is averaging 19.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He’s shooting an efficient 50.5% from the field and a respectable 33.3% from beyond the arc. Those are the kind of numbers that make you understand just how much he means to this Mavericks team - especially when you consider the injuries piling up elsewhere on the roster.
Speaking of which, Klay Thompson’s status is a bit murkier. He’s listed as questionable with soreness in his left knee after playing just 19 minutes in the win over the Pistons.
Thompson’s return to form has been anything but smooth this season. He came off the bench in Detroit and managed just five points on eight shots, adding two assists and a rebound.
Through the season so far, Thompson is averaging 10.8 points per game while shooting 36.7% from the floor and 35.7% from three. Those numbers are well below what we’ve come to expect from the veteran guard, and the Mavericks are still waiting for him to find his footing in this new role.
Here’s the full injury report heading into Saturday night’s matchup with the 76ers:
- Anthony Davis - Probable (illness)
- Klay Thompson - Questionable (left knee soreness)
- Dante Exum - Out
- Kyrie Irving - Out
- Dereck Lively II - Out
So, is Anthony Davis playing tonight? Barring a late setback, yes - and that’s a big boost for a Mavericks team that needs every bit of his two-way impact to keep climbing back into contention.