The Dallas Mavericks will be looking to make it two straight wins on Friday night when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome. Unfortunately for the Mavs, they will need to attempt to secure a road win against a surging Clippers side without their best player available. This is after Anthony Davis was ruled out for the game due to an adductor strain, per Underdog NBA on X. Davis was initially tagged as questionable to play heading into Friday's contest, and it is now clear that the 10-time All-Star was unable to recover in time for the Clippers game.
What makes this a painful blow for the Mavs is the fact that Davis is coming off a tremendous 34-point, 15-rebound double-double on Wednesday to lead Dallas to a 120-118 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. More importantly, this is the same injury that forced Davis to miss 18 straight games following his mid-season blockbuster trade from the Los Angeles Lakers. The silver lining here for Mavs fans, though, is that they play again on Saturday night against the Clippers. The fact that the team is playing twice in two nights (and three times in four days) could have played a role in Dallas' decision to have Davis sit out on Friday night.
The Mavs enter Friday's contest with a 38-39 record. As of writing, they are 1.5 games ahead of the Sacramento Kings for the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. Despite the injury to Davis, the Mavericks have shown resilience, and their starting five can still match up with winning opponents. They proved so at home against the Atlanta Hawks, where big man Anthony Davis documented 34 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks.
Meanwhile, the LA Clippers are on a mission to win out the rest of the way, and they are on pace after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 114-98. Those 48 minutes against New Orleans were pure perfection, from superstars to role players. Kawhi Leonard kept up with his push of force and domination on offense and defense, breaking down the Pelicans with 28 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He shot 11-18 on field goals in 38 minutes, also drilling three of five three-point attempts.
James Harden was another standout for the Clippers, contributing a double-double of 21 points and 10 assists in 34 minutes against the Pelicans. The former MVP was great at anticipating shots, as he swatted three of the Clippers’ four total blocks. Each time Harden racks up a high number of assists, star big man Ivica Zubac usually stuffs the shot charts with dunks, layups, and his signature hook shot. This was evident as Zubac posted 17 points and 10 rebounds on 6-8 shooting. Bogdan Bogdanović also soared for 16 points in 26 minutes, showcasing his recent trade impact.
As for the Mavericks, they have a few key injuries to manage. In addition to Davis, who is ruled out, the team will also be without Kyrie Irving, who was ruled out for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL. Davis has appeared in just six games for the Mavericks since his trade, boasting a 5-1 record in those contests. However, with only four more games left on their schedule after Friday's contest, the Mavericks are feeling the pressure.
Tip-off is set for 10:30 p.m. EST in Los Angeles on Friday night between the Mavericks and Clippers, and they'll be in action yet again on Saturday night to complete a back-to-back rematch. As the Mavericks aim to solidify their playoff position, the Clippers are looking to maintain their momentum and secure their playoff spot as well. With both teams fighting for their playoff lives, fans can expect an intense showdown.
Injuries continue to pile on for the Mavericks, but they are still a threat in the Western Conference and have a playoff spot to fight for. Despite not having the best of seasons, the Mavericks have shown they can compete with top teams. Will the Mavericks be able to overcome the absence of Davis and secure a crucial win against the Clippers? Or will the Clippers continue their winning streak and assert their dominance in the West? Fans will be eagerly watching as the action unfolds.
