The Dallas Mavericks gave updates on Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford on Friday, and all three players are trending in the right direction in recovery from their injuries.
Davis has missed the last 11 games because of a strained left adductor and is improving daily to the point that the Mavs have cleared him for more dynamic on-court
movements.
The Mavs said Lively, who has missed the last 24 games because of a right ankle stress fracture, had a recent re-evaluation and is progressing in his rehabilitation and is doing individual court work. Meanwhile, Gafford who has missed the last 10 games because of a right knee sprain, is showing progress and will be evaluated again in two weeks, according to the Mavs.
Also, Lively and Davis will be evaluated weekly with relevant updates as appropriate.
“I think we’re just taking it day-by-day and trying to get heathy and continue to put our best foot forward to compete and try to win,” coach Jason Kidd said before Friday’s game against Memphis. “Right now we have 19 games left and we’re just focused on the Memphis Grizzlies.
“As we go forward, hopefully we’ll continue to get positive news on Lively. He’s out of the boot, so he’s trending in the right direction. AD is trending in the right direction, so as we go forward there will be more news to come. Hopefully they’ll be able to play, but we just don’t know.”
Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins knows it’s a challenge for the Mavs to try and win games when the bulk of their front line is in street clothes.
“Their front line poses a lot of challenges,” Jenkins said. “It unlocks a lot for their offensive game (and) the pick-and-roll play that they’re used to that I’ve seen with the Mavericks.
“What they can do to wall off the paint and the rim, it definitely changes some of their defensive philosophies. And they may go to more switching defense without Davis, Gafford, Lively. They’re big-time anchors for their base defense.”
Still, Kidd knows his players will put up an admirable performance, which is what they did before losing Friday’s game against the Grizzlies, 122-111.
“In that locker room guys are playing for something, but they’re also trying to do the right thing that we’re asking as a coaching staff (for them) to do,” Kidd said. 
“Yes, we’re small and may be under-sized.
“But we can play fast, and the one thing we always talk about is playing hard, so that’s what we’re trying to do right now.”
JENKINS HAS EMPATHY FOR IRVING: Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said the Mavs are definitely much different without the impact guard Kyrie Irving can have on a game.
“With Kyrie, he’s one of the best guards of all time,” Jenkins said. “Obviously, he was having an All-Star year. I feel for him.”
The Mavs lost Irving for the season when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Monday’s game against Sacramento.
“Hopefully, he bounces back,” Jenkins said. “I know he’s going to have tons of support. He’s going to be attacking his rehab to get out there.
“He’s one of the best dudes in the game. It changes their offensive flow obviously, how dynamic he is in ISO situations, in pick-and-roll situations.”
BRIEFLY: In addition to Davis, Irving, Lively and Gafford, the other injured Mavs who also missed the game against Memphis were P.J. Washington (right ankle sprain), Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain), Olivier-Maxence Prosper (right wrist sprain) and Kai Jones (left quad strain) . . . Friday’s game served as the 34th different starting lineup the Mavs have used in their first 64 games this season. That includes 23 different lineups that have been used for only one game. Between injuries, trades and acquisitions, the Mavs have used the same starting lineup more than four games on just three occasions this season. The starting lineup of Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, Dereck Lively II, Kyrie Irving and Luka Dončić posted a 6-1 record. The lineup of Daniel Gafford, Thompson, Washington, Irving and Dončić went 4-3. And the lineup of Spencer Dinwiddie, Thompson, Washington, Gafford and Irving own a 3-3 record.
X: @DwainPrice
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