The 2025-26 campaign has been nothing short of a nightmare for the Dallas Mavericks. They are sitting near the bottom of the standings, the general manager is gone, and the shadow of the Luka Doncic trade looms large over the franchise.
But for a team desperate for a spark, Monday brought the one thing they needed most: hope regarding their All-NBA big man.
Will Anthony Davis Suit Up Against the Denver Nuggets?
Dallas currently sits at 6-15, trailing the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference by two and a half games. Head coach Jason Kidd’s squad entered the season with title aspirations, but injuries and inconsistency have derailed those plans quickly. The fallout has been severe, as general manager Nico Harrison was subsequently fired less than a year after the blockbuster move trading Luka Doncic to Los Angeles.
The return package centered on Anthony Davis, but his tenure in Texas has been defined by absences. It has been an injury-riddled campaign so far; the future Hall of Famer has played just 15 games for the Mavericks since arriving in February 2025. His latest setback, a left calf strain suffered Oct. 29 against the Indiana Pacers, cost him nearly a month of action.
Davis finally returned to the court in Friday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers before sitting out Saturday’s victory over the Los Angeles Clippers for injury management. Now, all eyes are on his status for tonight. Fortunately, the team’s latest injury report suggests positive news regarding his chances of playing tonight against Denver.
Can the Mavericks Salvage Their Playoff Hopes?
The road back to relevance won’t be easy. The West is loaded, with the Oklahoma City Thunder setting a historic pace at 20-1. Meanwhile, the Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Nuggets appear to be legitimate threats to the defending champions. Even younger teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs are making noise behind their rising superstars.
Despite the crowded field, the door to the Play-In Tournament remains open. Dallas just needs to string together wins. That starts with keeping Davis on the floor and surviving until Kyrie Irving returns in early 2026.
Minority owner Mark Cuban still believes this roster can compete, especially with rookie sensation Cooper Flagg showing improvement. For a fanbase looking for optimism, Davis’ potential availability tonight is a massive step in the right direction.
