The Dallas Mavericks arrive in the Pacific Northwest looking for steadier footing, and they could regain a key piece of their rotation Monday night as guard Brandon Williams trends toward a return against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.

Williams missed Saturday’s loss to Sacramento with a left calf contusion despite completing a pregame workout. After going through shootaround Monday, his status improved, placing him in position to be available as Dallas continues to navigate a demanding stretch of games and travel.

Williams’ potential availability would provide a timely boost for a Mavericks team managing multiple absences across the rotation. His progression through shootaround marked a notable step after Dallas opted for caution over the weekend.

The timing matters. Williams is coming off one of his most productive outings of the season, scoring 26 points Thursday against the Golden State Warriors while adding three rebounds and three assists. With Dallas short-handed, he provided downhill pressure and shot creation during a stretch when the Mavericks have struggled to generate consistent offense.

Anthony Davis Continues to Work Through Adductor Soreness

While Williams’ outlook has improved, Anthony Davis remains a central question mark. Davis continues to manage right adductor soreness and sat out Saturday’s loss at Sacramento. He completed a workout after shootaround Monday but remains questionable for the matchup in Portland.

Davis has played in just 16 of the Mavericks’ 33 games this season, and his availability has shaped nightly adjustments. Without him, Dallas has emphasized pace, ball movement and rebounding to stay competitive.

“Missing a guy of that magnitude is tough,” P.J. Washington said. “He’s so dominant on both ends of the floor.”

Dallas remains without Kyrie Irving, who is out following left knee surgery, along with Danté Exum (right knee surgery) and Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery). Moussa Cissé is questionable while on G League assignment, and Miles Kelly is doubtful.

Those absences have forced Dallas to shuffle lineups and roles nightly, leaning on versatility as the schedule offers little relief.

Cooper Flagg Navigates the NBA Grind

Monday’s game marks Dallas’ 34th contest of the season. At this point last year, Cooper Flagg had just completed the ACC tournament and was preparing for the NCAA Tournament with Duke.

Now 19, Flagg has already played in 32 of the Mavericks’ 33 games. He is averaging 19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists and has elevated his production in December.

“I’m a little tired, for sure,” Flagg said after Saturday’s game. “You go through it and try to figure out what works for me. But at 32 games, that’s pretty much as many games as I played the whole season last year.

“It’s different, for sure. It’s a lot more mentally tiring, physically as well. But I’d say the mental part is the biggest change. I’m just trying to figure it out day by day.”

Despite the fatigue, Flagg finished with 23 points, six rebounds and five assists against Sacramento, even as turnovers proved costly.

“It’s different,” Flagg said. “You don’t have as much time in between, you don’t get a break for holidays. It’s just different. You got to learn how to deal with it pretty quickly and figure it out on the go.”

Mavericks Searching for Consistency on the Road

Dallas enters Monday having lost four of its last five games, with the lone win coming at home against Denver on Dec. 23. Each of the four losses during that stretch has been by 10 points or fewer.

“I think the road trip has been tough,” Washington said. “Obviously, we’re professionals. There’s no excuses. We have to be better. We can’t just blame it on that.

“I think the biggest thing for us was turnovers. If we clean up a little bit of that, it’s a different outcome. Being able to rebound and not making silly turnovers.”

Dallas committed 21 turnovers against the Kings, with Flagg accounting for five.

Familiar Matchup Against Portland Trail Blazers

The schedule offers Dallas a familiar opponent. The Mavericks will seek to defeat Portland for the 15th time in the past 18 meetings when the teams meet for the second time this season.

Dallas earned a 138-133 overtime victory against the Trail Blazers on Nov. 16, when seven Mavericks scored in double figures to offset a season-best 36-point performance by Shaedon Sharpe.

Portland enters Monday coming off a 114-108 home win over Boston. After committing 17 first-half turnovers, the Trail Blazers had just four in the second half while outscoring the Celtics by 14.

“It’s tricky; it’s hard to tell them, ‘Don’t turn the ball over,’ because then the reaction, ‘Well, I’m going to be less aggressive,’” Portland interim coach Tiago Splitter said. “It’s a balance or, OK, try not to get those dumb ones where the guy is right there and you pass it over there or you see a hand in the passing lane and you throwing it or trying a difficult one.”

Sharpe scored 26 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three, while Deni Avdija added 24 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Toumani Camara contributed 20 points, and Donovan Clingan delivered 18 points and 18 rebounds.

“(Clingan) protecting the rim, his rebounding was huge,” Splitter said. “But as a group, the energy was there.”

Portland forward Jerami Grant is expected to miss his sixth straight game with an Achilles injury.

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