Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard headline injury report for Mavericks-Clippers

A lot of stars could be in street clothes on Friday night for NBA Cup action.

Apr 4, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) moves the ball against Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during the first half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks will welcome the LA Clippers to the American Airlines Center on Friday night for NBA Cup Group Play, with both teams looking to pick up their first win of NBA Cup action this year. Both teams have been major disappointments to start the season, as each team has just 3 wins. Someone will leave this game with a fourth, but a long list of stars won't decide the outcome.

Dallas has a lot of its key frontcourt members questionable to play, but it all starts with Anthony Davis, who has missed the last seven games with a low-grade calf strain. Rumor has it that Nico Harrison was pushing for Davis to return early, and Davis wanted to play, but the medical staff disagreed, as did Patrick Dumont, and Harrison was fired as general manager a few days later. Dumont, the Mavericks' team governor, doesn't want Davis to return to the floor until they're sure he can't worsen the injury.

That's a smart decision considering the rise in Achilles tears last year, a lot of them due to calf strains. But it's a hard injury to determine when a player may be good to come back, especially when one is out of shape, like Davis has been to start the year. Davis is questionable for this game; however, he's not the only one dealing with an injury.

Nov 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA] Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (left) and forward Anthony Davis (right) look on during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

READ MORE: Dallas Mavericks looking to find life against lifeless LA Clippers

Full Mavericks-Clippers Injury Report

P.J. Washington left Wednesday's game with a left shoulder strain, and he's also questionable for this matchup, as is Dereck Lively II with a knee sprain. Lively has missed the last nine games, and there hasn't been much clarity on what happened with his injury. They could use him back out there, as we've yet to see the center tandem of Lively and Daniel Gafford in the same game this year, as Gafford dealt with an ankle sprain to start the season and is still on a minutes restriction now.

Kyrie Irving (left knee ACL surgery recovery) and Dante Exum (right knee injury management) remain out, while Cooper Flagg (right thumb sprain) is available. Flagg is also dealing with a minor left shoulder injury, but the Mavs don't seem to think it's serious enough to list on the injury report.

The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard (right ankle sprain) and Bradley Beal (left hip fracture). Beal is set for season-ending surgery, while Leonard has only played in six games this year, which doesn't help all of the accusations about the Clippers navigating around the salary cap to give Leonard more money through that Aspiration company.

READ MORE: Cooper Flagg battling nagging injuries, should Mavericks fans be concerned?

Stick with MavericksGameday for more FREE coverage of the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2025-26 season

Follow MavericksGameday on Twitter and Austin Veazey on Twitter

More Dallas Mavericks News

• Mavericks finally admit mistake in trading Luka Doncic to Lakers, fire Nico Harrison

• Mavericks already pushing for former executive to be Nico Harrison replacement

• 3 Anthony Davis NBA trade ideas now that Mavericks have fired Nico Harrison

• Mark Cuban says how 'painful' it is with Luka Doncic on Lakers instead of Mavericks