In a critical clash of Western Conference play-in tournament contenders, 10-time All-Star Dallas Mavericks power forward/center Anthony Davis and former three-time All-Star L.A. Clippers guard Ben Simmons both landed on a league injury report early Friday.
While Simmons was quickly ruled out for left knee injury management, Davis was initially listed as questionable to play through a left adductor strain — the same ailment that has plagued him, on and off, since he was on the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this season.
Per Underdog NBA, Davis will now sit out Friday’s clash.
Anthony Davis (adductor) ruled out Friday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) April 5, 2025
Sporting a 38-39 record, the Mavericks are currently the No. 9 seed in the West, 1.5 games in front of the 36-40 Sacramento Kings, losers of seven of their last nine games. The 35-41 Phoenix Suns, the conference’s No. 11 seed, are one game behind the Kings. The 34-43 Portland Trail Blazers are 1.5 games behind Phoenix.
All four clubs are in action today, with the West’s final two play-in tournament slots very much up for grabs. Missing Davis, the Mavericks’ best all-around player, will hurt mightily.
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Davis has been getting clutch buckets for Dallas since initially returning from the adductor injury. The 6-foot-10 big man nailed his fifth-ever game-winning jump shot on Wednesday night, helping the Mavericks clinch a 120-118 victory.
Shifted to a starting power forward role thanks to the return of starting center Dereck Lively II, the five-time All-NBA honoree scored 34 points on 14-of-23 shooting from the floor (2-of-4 from distance) and 4-of-4 shooting from the foul line, grabbed 15 rebounds, blocked five shots, dished out two dimes and swiped one steal.
Anthony Davis hit the game-winning jumper with 3.4 seconds left in Dallas’ 120-118 win over Atlanta last night.According to @Elias, it marked Davis’ 5th career game-winning basket with under 5.0 seconds remaining (including the playoffs). pic.twitter.com/iY5Ul9s8z7
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) April 3, 2025
In his six available games for Dallas so far, Davis is averaging 19.5 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 blocks per.
At 44-32, the Clippers are currently the West’s eighth seed, but are just two games behind the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Lakers with six games left to play. Unlike the Mavericks, the Clippers have early punched their ticket to at least the postseason with their impressive play so far.
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L.A. has weathered the storm of extended Kawhi Leonard injury absence (an annual occurrence now) this season thanks to the impressive play of All-Star point guard James Harden, Most Improved Player candidate Norman Powell, solid two-way center Ivica Zubac, and a bevy of versatile shooters and defenders.
In 14 games with L.A. so far, Simmons has become a defense-first bench option. He’s averaging 3.6 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field and 85.7 percent shooting from the foul line, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 0.9 steals a night. The 28-year-old former No. 1 overall draft pick is no longer the All-Star, All-Defensive standout he was during his Philadelphia 76ers-era prime, but he’s proving now that he can still be a useful role player on a good team.
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