League sources say Anthony Davis — sidelined by a left adductor strain in the third quarter of his Mavericks debut on Feb. 8 — is in increasingly strong contention to make his return to the floor during the Mavericks’ upcoming swing through the Eastern Conference. Dallas has a New York City back-to-back against the Nets and Knicks on Monday and Tuesday, then plays at Orlando on Thursday before the trip finale in Chicago on Saturday.
Source: marcstein.substack.com
Source: marcstein.substack.com
What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
This Just In: Celtics Are Sold, AD Back? WATFO Catch-Up with @DannyLeroux
Join us:
duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.x.com/L534XQaiDB – 5:01 PM
This Just In: Celtics Are Sold, AD Back? WATFO Catch-Up with @DannyLeroux
Join us:
duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.x.com/L534XQaiDB – 5:01 PM


Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
This Just In: Celtics Are Sold, AD Back? WATFO Catch-Up with @DannyLeroux
Join us:
duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.x.com/N2Rzo81V4D – 3:01 PM
This Just In: Celtics Are Sold, AD Back? WATFO Catch-Up with @DannyLeroux
Join us:
duncdon.supportingcast.fm pic.x.com/N2Rzo81V4D – 3:01 PM


Allen Sliwa @AllenSliwa
Lakers Fully Healthy? | Bronny A Distraction? | Did Lebron Know About AD/Luka Trade? x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 10:58 AM
Lakers Fully Healthy? | Bronny A Distraction? | Did Lebron Know About AD/Luka Trade? x.com/i/broadcasts/1… – 10:58 AM

Eddie Sefko @ESefko
Mavs’ new injury update: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Dante Exum, Caleb Martin and O-Max Prosper out. Brandon Williams probable. – 6:36 PM
Mavs’ new injury update: Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Dante Exum, Caleb Martin and O-Max Prosper out. Brandon Williams probable. – 6:36 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Luka in the first quarter:
21 PTS
7-10 FG
3-5 3P
Joins AD as the only Lakers to score 20 points in the first quarter of a game this season. pic.x.com/9QAcsccL1l – 10:43 PM
Luka in the first quarter:
21 PTS
7-10 FG
3-5 3P
Joins AD as the only Lakers to score 20 points in the first quarter of a game this season. pic.x.com/9QAcsccL1l – 10:43 PM


Cameron Tabatabaie @CTabatabaie
Sam Adams dropped another excellent Derrick White ad pic.x.com/10a97hji0c – 9:14 PM
Sam Adams dropped another excellent Derrick White ad pic.x.com/10a97hji0c – 9:14 PM

Mike Curtis @MikeACurtis2
Asked Jason Kidd about possible benchmarks that Anthony Davis needs to clear before he’s able to play:
“He’s trending in the right place. He had a positive experience in the practice. He’ll continue to do things this week. Hopefully the outcome continues to be positive. A lot of – 5:44 PM
Asked Jason Kidd about possible benchmarks that Anthony Davis needs to clear before he’s able to play:
“He’s trending in the right place. He had a positive experience in the practice. He’ll continue to do things this week. Hopefully the outcome continues to be positive. A lot of – 5:44 PM
More on this storyline
A specific game for Davis’ comeback has not yet been locked in, sources said, but the nine-time NBA All-Star forward has progressed to the point that he is nearing clearance to be reinstated to the active roster after participating in five-on-five play twice this week with the Mavericks’ Texas Legends affiliate in the NBA G League. -via marcstein.substack.com / March 22, 2025
Marc Stein: The Mavericks’ Anthony Davis, I’m told, is scheduled to participate today in his second round of 5-on-5 practice with the @TexasLegends of the @nbagleague as he continues to progress toward his return from a left adductor strain. More NBA from me: tinyurl.com/yrmzrx83 -via Twitter @TheSteinLine / March 21, 2025
“I don’t know how much of a worry it was at like the top level of the organization, in terms of the Jeanie-Rob level, but I know in talking to lower level people there in the immediate aftermath of the trade and the situation, there was a sense,” Jovan Buha of The Athletic said on his podcast. “There’s no way LeBron knew [about the trade]. And doing a trade of this magnitude and not giving him the heads up… He’s always been ‘the guy’ since he entered the league,” Buha went on to say. “It’s not that teams have run every decision by him, but something this big — trading AD and essentially reshaping the franchise — you’d expect him to get heads up. “Given his contract situation and Klutch [Sports] potentially losing influence with AD’s departure, some thought it could potentially lead to him asking out or at least exploring that option. Obviously, that did not happen.” -via BasketNews / March 21, 2025