Today, the Mavericks will play the Lakers at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Mavericks have won two of their last five games, while the Lakers have won four.
Anthony Davis OUT, LeBron James QUESTIONABLE for Lakers vs. Mavericks game
The Los Angeles Lakers have been playing better as of late after a dismal start to the season. They had won five straight before losing on Monday to the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers will be looking to even the series with the Mavericks after dropping Game 1.
| PLAYER | POSITION | UPDATED | INJURY | INJURY STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Beverley | PG | Wed, Jan 11 | Illness | Game Time Decision |
| Troy Brown Jr. | SF | Tue, Jan 10 | Quadriceps | Game Time Decision |
| LeBron James | SF | Tue, Jan 10 | Ankle | Game Time Decision |
| Anthony Davis | C | Sat, Jan 7 | Foot | Expected to be out until at least Jan 20 |
| Lonnie Walker IV | SF | Fri, Jan 6 | Knee | Expected to be out until at least Jan 20 |
| Austin Reaves | SG | Fri, Jan 6 | Hamstring | Expected to be out until at least Jan 20 |
Anthony Davis (foot) hopes to start gradually increasing his workout intensity so that he can return to the starting lineup within a couple of weeks.
On Saturday, Davis missed his twelfth straight game due to a fracture in his right foot, but he will soon begin a ramp-up process that includes pool workouts and running on an altered-gravity treadmill. It’s encouraging to see the star center making the decision to put less emphasis on shooting and more on conditioning.
The Lakers started off poorly without Davis, but Thomas Bryant has led them to five straight victories. The current winning streak by Los Angeles won’t continue indefinitely, though, unless the team quickly returns to full strength.
In the meantime, LeBron James (ankle) will play in this game. James is expected to return after missing one game due to a sore left ankle. Without key players Anthony Davis (foot), Austin Reaves (hamstring), and Lonnie Walker (knee), James will have to direct the majority of the offense if he plays.
Luka Doncic (ankle) and the Mavericks will take on LeBron James and the Lakers on Thursday, and it will be a game you won’t want to miss.
Luka Doncic (ankle) totaled 43 points (12-22 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 16-21 FT), 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals across 43 minutes during Tuesday’s 113-101 loss to the LA Clippers.
He took a bit to warm up after missing the Mavericks’ previous game Sunday in Oklahoma City with left ankle soreness, but he roared back with 20 points in the fourth quarter, placing the Mavericks within striking distance.
The Dallas Mavericks have hit a few snags as of late, winning just two of their last five games and dropping two straight. Despite being up 3-0 in the best-of-four series against the Lakers, Dallas will have a tough time winning on the road in this game.
| PLAYER | POSITION | UPDATED | INJURY | INJURY STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorian Finney-Smith | SF | Wed, Jan 11 | Hip | Expected to be out until at least Jan 14 |
| Dwight Powell | C | Wed, Jan 11 | Hip | Game Time Decision |
| Josh Green | SG | Wed, Jan 11 | Elbow | Expected to be out until at least Jan 14 |
| Maxi Kleber | PF | Thu, Dec 15 | Hamstring | Expected to be out until at least Feb 23 |