‘He Seems In Good Spirits’: Dallas Mavericks Star Anthony Davis Remains Out vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Anthony Davis will remain sidelined for Friday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies, but his return could be on the horizon as he continues to recover from a calf injury.
Head coach Jason Kidd confirmed pregame that Davis is out but noted that he’s progressing well.
“He seems in good spirits, and I think he’s doing fine health-wise,” Kidd said. “So we’ll see. But I don’t know about tomorrow.”
Davis has missed the last three games as the Mavericks navigate ongoing frontcourt challenges. Kidd said the team is taking a cautious approach, focusing on getting Davis fully healthy before reintegrating him into the lineup.
P.J. Washington’s Versatility Holding Dallas Together
With Davis and Dereck Lively II sidelined, P.J. Washington has shouldered much of the frontcourt responsibility and emerged as one of the Mavericks’ most reliable players. Washington ranks second on the team in scoring (15.8 points per game) and rebounding (8.6 per game) while leading in minutes played (34.6).
“Just due to the health of our team, we’ve had to go small,” Kidd said. “P.J.’s shown that — being able to shoot the three, playmake, and score. He’s been incredible.”
Washington’s adaptability has been vital in Dallas’ smaller lineups, allowing him to defend multiple positions and initiate offense when needed. “I feel like I can play with anybody on the floor no matter who’s out there,” Washington said. “We have a lot of great guys on this team, and at the end of the day, we all know we can’t play at the same time. Just being able to cheer a teammate on whenever you’re not on the floor and having a good attitude — I think that’s going to take us a long way.”
Kidd added that Lively is making progress in his recovery from a right knee injury and is “hopefully back by next week,” which would help stabilize the rotation.
Dallas Mavericks Staying Competitive Amid Injuries
The Mavericks have relied heavily on smaller, versatile lineups featuring Washington and Cooper Flagg, the 18-year-old forward continuing to adjust to the NBA. Kidd said finding continuity remains key for the team’s growth through early-season adversity.
“Continuity for him is important,” Kidd said. “He’s an 18-year-old rookie, and he’s doing the best that he can.”
Despite the offensive struggles, Kidd praised the team’s defensive consistency.
“When you look at our defense being ranked in the top five or top 10, and you look at the pace — it’s just our shooting that’s horrendous,” he said. “We can’t make shots on a consistent basis. We’re getting great looks, but our defense is keeping us in games.”
Davis’ return will give the Mavericks a much-needed interior anchor and balance to complement Washington’s steady play. Until then, Dallas will continue leaning on its defensive effort and positional flexibility to stay competitive in the Western Conference.
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