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Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) runs back up the court during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) runs back up the court during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Jason Kidd Confirms Anthony Davis’ Minutes Restrictions in Return Game vs Lakers

Originally posted on EssentiallySports | By Caroline John | Last updated Nov 29, 2025 12:18 AM ET

It’s official. Anthony Davis is going to play on his former home court for the first time. After hinting here and there the day before, AD has been cleared to return. There was no way he was missing the first opportunity to play against the Lakers in Crypto.com Arena. Coming off a month-long hiatus for calf injury, almost everyone expects he’d be on the floor for short bursts of time. Unexpectedly, we might see him do a lot more. We just hope the Lakers had enough notice to put together a welcome party.

AD is expected to be on minutes restriction. But it’s going to be a more generous restriction by most standards. Jason Kidd told reporters ahead of the game that AD will likely play 24-27 minutes.

If The Brow is back at full strength that might be enough. Or he might be so good, fans are going to rage when he’s pulled out of the game, just like Philly fans are mad at Nick Nurse for enforcing Paul George’s minutes restriction when he was on fire.

This will be his first game back in Crypto.com Arena since that February 2 trade. It’s the final group stage game in the inseason tournament for both teams, but it won’t be against a shiny NBA Cup court. Because Luka Doncic informally complained about it being slippery and the NBA took note. It doesn’t really matter to the Mavs.

Anthony Davis is expected to play 24-27 minutes in his return tonight after missing the last month, per Jason Kidd.

— Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon) November 29, 2025

The day the Lakers beat the Clippers, they clinched their spot in the Knockout Rounds. That automatically eliminated the Mavericks from contention. Tonight’s outcome won’t change that. But it was still not a game Anthony Davis was going to miss.

Anthony Davis got his Thanksgiving wish

The last time the Lakers with Luka Doncic hosted the Mavericks after February 2, Anthony Davis was not in the lineup. He was sidelined by a left adductor strain last season. He started the 2025-26 season but only played for five out of the 19 games. On Thanksgiving, AD practiced with the team for the first time in a month and first time since Nico Harrison got fired.

He showed no animosity to the fired GM, but was eager to play against the Lakers. When asked which of the back-to-back road games against the Lakers and Clippers he wants to return in, Davis said, “Is that a real question? You know what game I want to play. We’ll see, have a conversation, and see what makes the most sense…” It was still not decided if he was in shape to return, so he did add a disclaimer. “Obviously, I would like to. But the main thing is just to get on the floor, whether that’s on Friday or Saturday.”

He got what he wanted. Jason Kidd confirmed that AD is returning against the Lakers and the team will keep an eye on his minutes. It’s bound to be as emotional as the day Luka Doncic played his first game in American Airlines Center in Purple & Gold.

During his time in LA, AD formed a great partnership with LeBron James that led them to the 2020 championship. Despite his teammates’ dependence on Davis, the franchise effectively told him they’re not all-in on him by trading Davis as soon as he said he needed more help. This gives him the first opportunity for a little retribution.

The low stakes might actually be a good thing. The Mavs can experiment how to divide AD’s limited minutes across the four quarters. Not like they’re going anywhere any faster and the Lakers are comfortably second seed and 13-14 in the West. So this is more about reunion and revenge.

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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