After finally snapping a four-game losing streak, the Dallas Mavericks\u2019 attention now shifts to the injury report heading into Monday\u2019s home matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.<\/p>\n
Anthony Davis<\/a> (left calf strain) and Daniel Gafford<\/a> (right ankle sprain) are listed as questionable, while Dereck Lively II<\/a> (right knee sprain) is doubtful. Kyrie Irving<\/a> (left knee surgery) and Dant\u00e9 Exum (right knee injury management) remain out.<\/p>\n The Mavericks (3\u20137) are looking to build on Saturday\u2019s 111\u2013105 win over the Washington Wizards<\/a> \u2014 a much-needed breakthrough powered by Naji Marshall<\/a>\u2019s season-high 30 points and balanced contributions from P.J. Washington<\/a>, Cooper Flagg<\/a>, and Brandon Williams<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThings obviously haven\u2019t gone extremely well for us so far. It isn\u2019t the start we\u2019ve been looking for,\u201d Flagg said after the win. \u201cAll we can do is stay positive and move forward and continue to take steps in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Anthony Davis\u2019 Return Still Uncertain<\/p>\n Davis has missed five consecutive games due to a left calf strain but continues to make steady progress. He traveled with the team on its two-game road trip and has increased his on-court activity, though the team remains cautious.<\/p>\n \u201cHe seems in good spirits, and I think he\u2019s doing fine health-wise,\u201d head coach Jason Kidd<\/a> said last week. \u201cSo we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n Before the injury, Davis averaged 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in five games while anchoring the Mavericks\u2019 defense and interior scoring. His presence could be vital as Dallas faces Milwaukee\u2019s frontcourt led by Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> and Myles Turner.<\/p>\n Daniel Gafford Trending in the Right Direction<\/p>\n Daniel Gafford returned to action Saturday after briefly exiting Friday\u2019s loss to Memphis with ankle soreness. The 6-foot-10 center tested the injury pregame in Washington and suited up, helping Dallas control the paint in the second half.<\/p>\n \u201cBack-to-backs are tough, just the mentality to how you approach it,\u201d Gafford said. \u201cYou\u2019re going to be tired, you\u2019re going to be fatigued \u2014 depending on how the game went the night before. But the most important game is the game you played the day of.\u201d<\/p>\n After missing the first five games of the season with the same ankle injury, Gafford has been on a minutes restriction but has looked increasingly comfortable.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been times throughout the last couple of games where they talked to me and said they were going to raise them up,\u201d Gafford said. \u201cBut honestly, it\u2019s really just kind of throughout the course of the game and just going throughout the flow \u2014 that\u2019s kind of when they\u2019ll let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n Gafford said he\u2019s determined to \u201chold it down\u201d until Davis and Lively are fully cleared.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in the same situation last year,\u201d Gafford said. \u201cI told them: \u2018Hey look man, y\u2019all take time to get y\u2019all bodies right and make sure y\u2019all get back healthy to where y\u2019all feel like y\u2019all are at 100 percent, and I\u2019ll hold it down as much as I can for y\u2019all.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Dereck Lively II Nearing a Return<\/p>\n Dereck Lively II continues to recover from a right knee sprain that has sidelined him since late October. The Mavericks have taken a careful approach with their young big man, who averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists through three games before the injury.<\/p>\n His doubtful designation marks continued progress, but the team has not provided a firm timeline for his return.<\/p>\n Dant\u00e9 Exum and Kyrie Irving Remain Out<\/p>\n Veteran guard Dant\u00e9 Exum remains sidelined as he continues to manage a right knee issue that has prevented him from making his season debut. <\/p>\n Kidd said over the weekend that Exum is still being re-evaluated, with no definitive timetable in place.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a great question,\u201d Kidd told DallasHoopsJournal.com<\/a>. \u201cHe\u2019s getting re-evaluated, and we\u2019ll see how that goes.\u201d<\/p>\n Exum averaged 8.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20 games last season, providing defense and steady secondary playmaking. His absence, combined with Irving\u2019s ongoing recovery from knee surgery, has forced the Mavericks to rely heavily on Brandon Williams, D\u2019Angelo Russell, and Ryan Nembhard<\/a> in the backcourt.<\/p>\n