Anthony Davis is expected to return to the lineup Thursday night when the Dallas Mavericks host the Philadelphia 76ers, with head coach Jason Kidd indicating the All-Star big man should resume his usual workload.
Speaking following Wednesday’s practice, Kidd said Davis is expected to play 30–34 minutes, consistent with his usage when available this season.
“We always want him to play, so we’re happy to have him back,” Kidd said. “We’ll see — 30 to 34 minutes. We want to get him some touches. Offensively and defensively, we need him to be AD.”
Anthony Davis Active and Explosive in Practice
Davis participated fully during the open portion of practice, working one-on-one and showing no visible limitations. He attacked the rim with force, finished through contact with multiple dunks, and displayed efficiency on turnaround jumpers and post-ups — a positive sign after missing Monday’s loss to Portland due to right adductor soreness.
Kidd confirmed Davis’ availability while also clarifying which players remain sidelined.
“Medically, Lively, Irving and Exum will be out,” Kidd said. “We expect AD to be in.”
Dallas will continue without Kyrie Irving, Danté Exum, and Dereck Lively II, increasing the importance of Davis’ presence on both ends of the floor.
Chemistry and Impact When Anthony Davis Is Available
Kidd emphasized that Davis’ return is about more than just individual production, pointing to how his presence stabilizes rotations and strengthens lineup continuity.
“A lot of it is chemistry,” Kidd said. “When guys get minutes with AD, relationships are created. Hopefully we can pick up where that left off. I thought him and Cooper were starting to play at a very high level. We won some big games against talented teams. Having AD helps us win ball games.”
The Mavericks are 8-8 in games Davis has played this season and 4-14 without him, underscoring how central his availability has been to Dallas’ competitiveness amid a stretch defined by injuries and close losses.
Matchup Context vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Dallas faced Philadelphia seven days ago and struggled defensively at the point of attack, something Kidd said must improve regardless of personnel.
“We have to do a better job guarding the ball,” Kidd said. “We didn’t do that. Embiid was out, so when Embiid’s in, it’s a different game. But when you look at how Philly played, they played at a high level. Both Maxey and Oubre were very, very good. We’ve got to keep those guys out of the paint.”
Asked about the challenge posed by Joel Embiid, Kidd pointed to the full scope of his offensive skill set.
“When you look at what he did last night in Memphis, being able to shoot it, he can post, he can pass,” Kidd said. “The touches he gets, he can put the ball in the basket. He’s been doing that his whole career.”
Outlook Entering Thursday
Davis has averaged 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 16 games this season, anchoring Dallas defensively while providing interior scoring and rim protection. With multiple rotation players still out, his return gives the Mavericks a stabilizing presence as they look to reverse a recent run of narrow defeats.
Dallas hosts Philadelphia on Thursday night.
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