How Many Minutes Will Dallas Mavericks Star Anthony Davis Play On Restriction Against Los Angeles Lakers?

Grant AfsethNovember 28, 2025November 28, 2025no comment

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis is expected to return Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing the past month with a calf strain, and the 10-time All-Star will do so on a 24-to-27-minute restriction as he ramps back into game action.

Davis has appeared in just five games this season, averaging 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists, and the Mavericks have struggled without him, posting a 3–11 record during his absence. Overall, Dallas sits at 5–14 entering Friday’s matchup — second-worst in the Western Conference — highlighting how much the team has missed his presence on both ends of the floor.

The game marks Davis’ first appearance in Los Angeles since the February trade that sent him to Dallas in exchange for Luka Dončić. Davis has not played since Oct. 29, when he suffered the injury against the Indiana Pacers. Though he originally targeted Nov. 8 as a return date, Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont and health and performance director Johann Bilsborough postponed his comeback until medical testing indicated he was past the immediate re-injury window.

After completing his first full practice in nearly a month on Wednesday, Davis acknowledged which matchup he is pushing to play in as long as the medical staff signs off.

“You know what game I want to play,” he said, referring to Friday’s meeting with his former team. “But we’ll see.”

Dallas plans to hold him out Saturday against the LA Clippers and revisit his status for Monday’s game in Denver.

Minutes Will Be Managed as Dallas Mavericks Reintegrates Their Star

Davis’ return lands in the middle of a period of organizational change for the Mavericks, arriving just over two weeks after the firing of general manager Nico Harrison. With league observers expecting Dallas to field trade inquiries on Davis before the early-February deadline, he was asked Wednesday how he handles hearing his name circulate again.

“Man, don’t make it like we going to war or something,” Davis said. “This is basketball and this comes with it. Everybody in their career has been involved in trade talks or been traded. That doesn’t affect me. I’ve been in trades and talks for a while. My job is to do what I do when I’m on the floor — play basketball, try to lead this team — and whatever comes out of that comes out of that. I don’t have any control over that. But I do have an open line of communication with the front office. I’m just ready to get back on the floor.

Kidd echoed that view, saying Davis carried himself with clarity and professionalism during Wednesday’s session. Kidd also underlined how clearly Davis’ absence has been felt.

“First practice with the group, he did a really good job,” Kidd said. “Rebounding, scoring, and his leadership — those are three big areas that we need, especially with a lot of these games being close.”

Davis later described the difficulty of being itching to return while the medical team urged patience. When asked about the process, he spoke openly about the tension between urgency and responsibility.

“It’s always frustrating when you’re sitting out,” he said. “Our job is to play games, and I want to play. But I’m listening to the medical staff and front office and trying to be smart with the situation. It is what it is.”

He added that this calf strain was less severe than the one he experienced in 2022.

“I don’t think this one was as severe as the one in 2022,” he said.

Dallas Mavericks Count on Anthony Davis to Help Close Tight Games

The Mavericks’ struggles in close games have been a defining issue during Davis’ absence; the team is 4–11 in clutch situations, frequently fading late as opposing offenses target mismatches and force Dallas into rushed possessions. Davis, who thrives in late-clock defensive coverages and half-court creation, said watching those sequences from the sideline has been difficult.

Reflecting on the team’s late-game execution, he said he feels those minutes are where he typically makes his biggest impact.

“Very difficult,” Davis said. “We’re right there — we’re in every game. For me, those moments are where I close games and help us on both ends of the floor.”

Kidd added that Davis’ return changes their rotations and stabilizes the locker room, especially with Dereck Lively II ruled out for the road trip.

“I think he’s in a good place. His energy and his spirit are in a positive place,” Kidd said. “It was good to have him on the floor, and I think his teammates would say the same thing.”

As the Mavericks try to recover from their rocky start, Davis said his goals remain straightforward.

“I’m just ready to get back on the floor,” he said.

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Tags :Anthony Davis Dallas Mavericks Dereck Lively II Jason Kidd Johann Bilsborough Los Angeles Lakers Luka Dončić NBA NBA News Patrick Dumont

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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