The Dallas Mavericks may soon have one of their stars back in the lineup. Ahead of Friday night’s road matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, Anthony Davis has been upgraded to doubtful after missing the last three games with a left calf strain — a positive sign for a team that continues to battle through frontcourt injuries.
Head coach Jason Kidd said earlier this week that Davis is making steady progress and has responded well to his treatment plan.
“He’s reported that he’s feeling better,” Kidd said.
Davis has averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in five games this season. His potential return would be a major boost for a Mavericks team that has leaned heavily on P.J. Washington, who has emerged as one of the club’s most dependable contributors through the first eight games.
P.J. Washington’s Steady Impact
Washington enters Friday’s contest averaging 15.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while leading the team in minutes (34.6). Kidd praised Washington’s versatility and effort, saying the veteran forward has filled multiple roles across the lineup.
“He’s playing unbelievable,” Kidd said. “He’s been playing at an All-Star level. He’s playing the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — he’s playing them all, and guarding everybody.”
Washington credited his success to embracing adaptability and maintaining a team-first approach.
“I think by just coming out and being myself and being versatile, 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, a lot of guys who are aspiring to win.”
The Mavericks will again rely on that versatility against a Memphis team that remains without several key frontcourt players, including Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey.
Dereck Lively II Still Working Toward Return
Dereck Lively II remains sidelined with a right knee sprain but continues to progress in his recovery. Kidd noted that the 7-footer has returned to on-court activity and could be back within the next week.
“Lively’s been participating on court and he’s doing well,” Kidd said. “He’s hopefully back by next week.”
Lively has averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in three games.
Backcourt Still Thin
The Mavericks’ backcourt depth remains limited. Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery) and Danté Exum (knee) will remain out for Friday’s game.
Without either guard available, Jason Kidd has continued to experiment with his rotation — starting D’Angelo Russell at point guard while bringing Klay Thompson off the bench for the first time in his Mavericks tenure.
“When we’ve had a point guard on the floor, it’s been all right,” Kidd said. “I talked to Klay and asked, ‘This isn’t a permanent thing, but can you come off the bench?’ And he was good with it. I thought him coming off the bench gave us a spark.”
Matchup Outlook
Dallas (2–6) enters Friday’s matchup seeking to halt a three-game skid and open NBA Cup play in Group B. Memphis (3–6) is led by Ja Morant, who is averaging 20.0 points and 7.3 assists per game but has faced early-season struggles both on and off the court.
For Dallas, Max Christie’s emergence has been a bright spot. The 22-year-old guard is averaging 11.8 points per game while shooting 52.8% from the field and 51.9% from three-point range, scoring in double figures in six straight contests.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST at FedEx Forum.
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