Report: Davis to return vs. Lakers after month-long absence

Dallas Mavericks star forward Anthony Davis is expected to play Friday against the Los Angeles Lakers after missing a month due to a strained calf, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

It will be the first time that Davis plays in L.A. against his former team since coming to the Mavericks in the February trade that shipped Luka Doncic to the Lakers. Davis faced his old teammates for the first time after the swap in Dallas on April 9, putting up 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in 33 minutes in a 112-97 loss.

Davis averaged 25 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks through the first four games of the season before suffering the calf injury six-and-a-half minutes into his fifth contest.

The 32-year-old has played in 14 of 49 games dating back to his Mavericks debut, during which he suffered a groin injury that caused him to miss the next 18 games.

Dallas is 3-11 without the 10-time All-Star this season and now sits in a tie with the Sacramento Kings for second last in the Western Conference. The Mavericks went 6-12 without Davis last season, during which time they fell from eighth to 10th. Although they defeated the Kings in their first play-in tournament matchup, they were eliminated in their second with a 120-106 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.