Will Mavericks star Anthony Davis play, prove trade value against Detroit Pistons?

With all of the trade rumors swirling, this could be a big opportunity for Anthony Davis.

Dec 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) looks to pass the ball during the game between the Mavericks and the Nets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks are hosting the Eastern Conference leader, the Detroit Pistons, on Thursday evening, hoping to play spoiler to yet another contender. They've beaten the Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, and Houston Rockets in recent weeks, and now want to upset the Pistons, who are on a 4-game winning streak.

Dallas is coming off a loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday night, despite Cooper Flagg putting up a record 42 points. A big reason for that loss was the absence of star forward Anthony Davis, who missed the game with a left calf contusion, the same calf that forced him to miss 14 straight games due to a strain.

For Thursday's game, Davis is listed as questionable with the same contusion. However, this is a big opportunity for him if he were to play and play well. The Pistons were one of a few teams rumored to have interest in trading for Davis, even if that interest has been downplayed to this point. Even at first glance, putting Davis on a team with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, when Cade Cunningham needs as much space as possible, seems foolish. But Davis would increase their talent level for a team that can compete to come out of the East this year.

But putting up a good game against the Pistons would be a sign to the other teams interested in trading for him that he can still be a useful player for teams in championship contention. A bad game, or even missing the game, would make it that much harder for the Mavs to trade him.

Dec 12, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) runs back up the court during the game between the Mavericks and the Nets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

READ MORE: Cooper Flagg wants to do something for Mavericks that Luka Doncic couldn't

Full Mavericks-Pistons Injury Report

Kyrie Irving (left ACL surgery recovery) is still out, and there hasn't been an established timeline for his return yet. The team remains hopeful that he can return before the All-Star break in February, but some of that will depend on how the team is performing. They would also like to see at least a few games of the trio of Irving, Anthony Davis, and Cooper Flagg playing together before making a decision on whether or not to trade Davis.

Dereck Lively II (right foot injury management) and Dante Exum (right knee surgery) are out for the season.

D'Angelo Russell (illness) and Brandon Williams (right Achilles soreness) are questionable, along with Davis.

For Detroit, the only players they won't have playing are either two-way players or guys on G-League assignment.

READ MORE: Toronto Raptors showing interest in two Mavericks bigs, including Anthony Davis

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