The Dallas Mavericks are preparing for an emotional clash on Wednesday night as they welcome the Los Angeles Lakers to American Airlines Center in a game with significant playoff stakes.
This will be the first time All-Star forward Anthony Davis faces the Lakers since being traded to Dallas in February in a stunning deal that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. While both stars have adapted well to their new teams, their franchises have taken very different paths post-trade.
The Lakers (48-31) are currently third in the West and need just one more win to secure a guaranteed playoff spot. The Mavericks, however, have faced numerous setbacks, with Davis missing 18 games due to an adductor injury and Kyrie Irving sidelined for the season with a torn ACL. Those absences pushed Dallas out of the top six, but Davis’ recent return has sparked a late push. Thanks to a Suns loss to the Warriors on Tuesday, the Mavericks clinched a play-in berth and now hold the 10th seed.
Dallas announced Davis is listed as probable to play against L.A., according to their official injury report. In his six appearances with the team so far, Davis is averaging 20.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, once again becoming the centerpiece of the Mavericks’ offense.
Despite losing four of their last five games, the Mavericks (38-41) trail the ninth-place Kings by just one game with three left to play. With playoff positioning and potential home-court advantage at stake, Wednesday’s game could be a turning point.
Should he take the court, all eyes will be on Davis as he goes up against the team he once led to an NBA championship—this time with Dallas’ postseason hopes hanging in the balance.
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