The Western Conference play-in race is no longer a distant concern for the Dallas Mavericks. It is forming in real time, with teams below them accelerating and little separation protecting the middle of the standings.<\/p>\n
The most notable mover is the LA Clippers, who have surged behind a renewed offensive identity and a dominant stretch from Kawhi Leonard<\/a>. A season-best five-game winning streak has pulled Los Angeles closer to Dallas and tightened an already crowded cluster of teams jockeying for play-in positioning. <\/p>\n For the Mavericks, the timing matters. Anthony Davis<\/a> has been removed from the injury report and is set to return after missing two games with right groin\/adductor soreness, a development Dallas hopes can help stabilize both its defense and late-game execution. Head coach Jason Kidd<\/a> confirmed Wednesday that Davis is expected to play while noting that Dereck Lively II<\/a>, Kyrie Irving<\/a>, and Dant\u00e9 Exum remain sidelined.<\/p>\n \u201cWe always want him to play, so we\u2019re happy to have him back,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see \u2014 30 to 34 minutes. We want to get him some touches. Offensively and defensively, we need him to be AD.\u201d<\/p>\n Entering Thursday\u2019s NBA action, the 12th-ranked Mavericks and 13th-ranked Clippers are both 17 games back of the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas enters at 12\u201322, while Los Angeles sits at 11\u201321.<\/p>\n From a play-in perspective, the Mavericks remain within striking distance. Dallas trails the Utah Jazz, who sit 11th, by one game and is two games back of the Portland Trail Blazers in the 10th spot. The Clippers\u2019 recent surge has further compressed that margin, turning the lower play-in race into a nightly battle where small swings in momentum can quickly reshape the standings.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 Surge Reshapes the Middle Tier<\/p>\n Los Angeles no longer resembles the plodding, inconsistent team that struggled to gain traction earlier in the season. The Clippers have increased their pace, leaned more heavily into perimeter shooting, and, most importantly, re-centered their offense around Leonard as a primary scoring engine.<\/p>\n Leonard is averaging 37.8 points during the five-game winning streak, a run that includes a career-high 55-point performance against Detroit. During the streak, the Clippers are making 16.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc, a significant jump from their season-long averages of 13.2 made threes on 36.6% shooting.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re just playing better (and) the cream is rising to the top,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cYou see all the work guys are putting in and they\u2019re making (3-pointers) now.\u201d<\/p>\n The improved results have come despite center Ivica Zubac<\/a> playing only 11 total minutes during the winning streak because of a sprained left ankle. Head coach Tyronn Lue<\/a> pointed to urgency and clarity as driving forces behind the turnaround.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re growing as a team and understanding what we need to do,\u201d Lue said. \u201cOur backs were against the wall, and our guys are responding.\u201d<\/p>\n The Clippers\u2019 recent blowout wins and offensive efficiency have turned them from a fading veteran group into an active threat to climb further, adding pressure to every team hovering around the play-in line.<\/p>\n Dallas Mavericks Searching for Footing as Pressure Builds<\/p>\n Dallas enters the new year attempting to reset after a difficult close to December. The Mavericks lost three straight games and five of their final six to end 2025, including a winless three-game road trip through Golden State, Sacramento, and Portland.<\/p>\n Kidd pointed to slow starts and defensive lapses as recurring issues during that stretch, particularly from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n \u201cThe slow starts. We have to be better defensively,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cWe had opportunities to win. We\u2019ve got to get off to better starts. Right now it seems like everybody\u2019s making threes, and we\u2019ve got to do better there too.\u201d<\/p>\n In Monday\u2019s 125-122 loss at Portland, Dallas allowed 16 three-pointers on 39% shooting, continuing a trend that has frustrated the coaching staff. Two nights earlier, Sacramento knocked down 17 of 38 from deep against the Mavericks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems like right now, everybody\u2019s making threes on us,\u201d Kidd said.<\/p>\n Execution late in games has also been a focal point, especially with Dallas frequently playing from behind.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you\u2019re behind, you expend a lot of energy,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cThe fourth quarter is where games are won or lost, and we have to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis\u2019 return is expected to help on both fronts, particularly defensively. Kidd noted that earlier this month, chemistry began to form when Davis shared extended minutes with the rest of the rotation, including Cooper Flagg<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of it is chemistry,\u201d Kidd said. \u201cWhen guys get minutes with AD, relationships are created. I thought him and Cooper were starting to play at a very high level. Having AD helps us win ball games.\u201d<\/p>\n