Davis set to return, Lakers aim for strong group stage performance – Basketball Insider
The Los Angeles Lakers entered Friday with a 13-4 record and a five-game winning streak. Their recent surge has placed them firmly in the Emirates NBA Cup. They have already secured a spot in the quarter-finals. A win over the Dallas Mavericks would solidify their seeding for the next round.
Dallas, on the other hand, is off to a rough start. The team’s current record is 5 wins and 14 losses, ranking last in the Western Conference. But they will get a major boost on Friday with the return of former Lakers star Anthony Davis.
Davis’ long-awaited return
Davis will play for the first time since a calf strain. He missed Dallas’ last 14 games. ESPN insiders Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon reported the news, writing: “Dallas Mavericks star power forward/center Anthony Davis, who has been sidelined for the past month with a calf strain, is scheduled to return to action Friday night against the Lakers in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN.”
Friday will also be his first game in Los Angeles since being traded to the Mavericks for Luka Doncic in February. As ESPN noted, “This will be the first time the 2020 NBA champion faces his former team in Los Angeles since the February trade that sent Davis to the Mavericks for superstar guard Luka Doncic.”
Davis’ season thus far
In Dallas, Davis averaged 29.8 minutes per game, 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Those numbers were lower than his usual output. His season was derailed when he injured his left adductor muscle shortly after the trade. That setback forced him to miss 18 consecutive games.
Davis played five and a half seasons in Los Angeles. He arrived in 2019 and immediately transformed the team. In his first year, the Lakers went from missing the playoffs to winning an NBA championship.
Trade noise around Dallas
His name is once again popping up in trade rumors. At least one report suggests the Mavericks may be willing to trade him in the near future. For now, Dallas is focused on getting him back on the court to stabilize their season.
The Lakers and Mavericks tipped off Friday in a game that featured big stakes for one and high emotions for the other.
