Is Anthony Davis Playing Tonight? (Injury Update, Betting Impact for Pelicans vs. Mavericks)

Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis has played in just one game since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers, and he was ruled out again on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

On Thursday, the Mavericks shared an update for Davis, saying that the All-Star big man is making "good progress" and that he'll be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Anthony Davis injury update:

Anthony Davis, who suffered a left adductor strain on Feb. 8 against Houston, is making good progress.

Davis will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Get well soon, AD 🙏 #MFFL pic.twitter.com/SZS46zOlZ8
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) February 20, 2025

While this is a positive update for the Mavs, who currently hold the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, they'll still have to get by without Davis for several more games. The team added veteran center Moses Brown to help fix their frontcourt issues with Davis, Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II all out with injuries.

When it comes to betting on Dallas, it is still favored at DraftKings Sportsbook on Friday night. Kyrie Irving will likely have to carry a big load for Dallas in order for it to get a win.

If you're looking to bet on the Mavericks, taking Irving in the prop market could be a smart move on Friday night.

Best Mavericks Prop Bet for Friday Night vs. Pelicans

Kyrie Irving OVER 27.5 Points (-120)

Irving should be in line for a big game against a Pelicans team that is dead last in the NBA in defensive rating over its last 10 games.

Since the Mavs traded away Luka Doncic, Irving is averaging 27.6 points per game, clearing this prop line in three of those matchups. On top of that, the Mavs guard is taking 20.6 shots per game over that stretch, giving him a terrific floor when it comes to his scoring props.

Irving should have a massive offensive workload again on Friday against a Pels team that he dropped 25 points against the last time he faced them.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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Find Peter Dewey's NBA betting record here (futures included). You can also follow my daily plays on BetStamp here.

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