Anthony Davis Cleared to Play — Big Warning for 76ers Tonight
The Dallas Mavericks hope to end a three-game skid Thursday with Anthony Davis back in the lineup after he was removed from the injury report. Davis missed the previous two games with adductor soreness but is expected to start and play roughly 30–35 minutes, returning to a team that sits 12th in the Western Conference at 12-22. Before the adductor issue, Davis was in strong form, averaging 26.3 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 blocks in the four games prior.
Philadelphia arrives at American Airlines Center at 17-14 and seventh in the East, fresh off a 139-136 overtime win over Memphis. Joel Embiid is listed as probable while managing ankle and knee issues; he scored 34 in that win and participated in shootaround, which increased the likelihood he’ll play. If both big men suit up, Davis vs. Embiid will be their first meeting since November 2023; they’ve faced each other eight times in their careers.
The matchup implications are clear: Dallas gets a major boost with Davis back, while Philadelphia’s availability questions could sway the outcome. The Sixers will be without Kelly Oubre Jr. (knee) and Trendon Watford (adductor), and they’ll lean heavily on Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George when available. Dallas still has significant absences: Kyrie Irving remains sidelined with a knee issue (no timetable), Dante Exum’s season has ended with a knee injury, and Derek Lively II recently underwent surgery and is on the mend.
Expect Davis to be inserted directly into the Mavericks’ starting rotation and tasked with stabilizing a struggling Dallas frontcourt. With both teams carrying health concerns, Thursday’s game could hinge on minutes and matchups in the paint — and Davis’ return instantly raises the stakes for a Mavericks club desperate to stop its slide.
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