The 10-time All-Star is reportedly set to return from a six-week absence against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Davis, 32, hasn’t played since his Mavericks debut on Feb. 8 due to an adductor strain. The injury put a halt to what was a stellar first game in a Dallas uniform for the star forward, as he put up 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in his 31 minutes of play before leaving due to injury.
Prior to the NBA landscape-shifting deal that swapped Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Mavericks in exchange for Luka Doncic, AD had averaged 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.1 blocks in 42 games with L.A.
The defending Western Conference champions are in a tight race with Phoenix for 10th place in the West, the final spot in the play-in tournament. Seven of Dallas’ remaining 11 games are on the road. After playing the Nets, Dallas is at the New York Knicks on Tuesday, at Orlando on Thursday and at Chicago on Saturday.
And although re-integrating Davis is a positive for the team, it by no means puts an end to their injury woes. The Mavericks are still without Kyrie Irving, who’s out for the season due to a knee injury, Caleb Martin (hip strain) and key big man Dereck Lively II (ankle) and Daniel Gafford (knee) who remain out with prolonged injuries. All the while, Dante Exum (hand) and Canadian Olivier-Maxence Prosper (wrist) are also done for the season.
— with files from the Associated Press
