The Dallas Mavericks are in survival mode. Their frontcourt is hanging by a thread, and the injuries keep piling up. The Mavs have already lost to Charlotte once this season, and with their interior defense still in shambles, another upset could be looming. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks expect both guys back with enough time to get real minutes together before the playoffs. That’s huge, considering how badly injuries have wrecked Dallas’ frontcourt. Until then, it’s all on  Kyrie Irving to keep this team going.

Anthony Davis won’t be on the court tonight as the Mavericks take on the Hornets. No surprises there—his left adductor strain has already kept him out for almost three weeks. But here’s some good news for Mavs fans: He’s finally getting close to a return, and rookie big man Dereck Lively II isn’t far behind. Davis made his Mavericks debut on February 8 and wasted zero time proving why Dallas went all-in for him. 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists—he dominated the Rockets. But just as quickly as he arrived, he was gone.

Midway through the third quarter, he landed awkwardly, grabbed his leg, and limped off the floor. The team called it a left adductor strain, and even though it wasn’t a major injury, the Mavs aren’t taking any risks. On February 20, they announced a two-week re-evaluation, meaning his earliest return would be early March.

Now, with MacMahon’s latest report, it’s clear Dallas wants Davis and Lively to get real game time together before the playoffs. They have to, considering how much they just shook up their frontcourt at the trade deadline. The only question is—how much ground will they lose before those guys return?

Mavericks’ Frontcourt Crisis Deepens

Dallas isn’t just missing Davis—their entire frontcourt is a mess. Lively’s still out with an ankle injury, Daniel Gafford’s dealing with knee issues, Caleb Martin’s sidelined with a hip problem, and even Dwight Powell is banged up.

That leaves Maxi Kleber as the only big man left standing. Not great.

Any team would struggle with that, but against Charlotte, it could be a disaster. Mark Williams dominated the paint last time these teams played, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hornets steal a win.

The Mavs have held their own without Davis and Lively, but it’s getting harder. The Western Conference standings are tight, and every loss could push them further down. They can’t afford to keep slipping.

And yeah, the Hornets’ record is terrible (14-43), but don’t be fooled. Dallas already lost to them once this season. Back in January, Charlotte stunned the Mavs 110-105, holding them to just five points in the final six minutes. That brutal collapse exposed their lack of interior defense—and nothing has changed since then.

LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges torched them in that game, combining for 46 points, while rookie Nick Smith Jr. buried a dagger three to seal it. Kyrie dropped 33, Gafford had a season-high 31, and it still wasn’t enough. And now? Gafford isn’t even playing.

Tonight isn’t just another game. It’s a test of survival. And if Dallas doesn’t figure it out fast, they might be in trouble when Davis and Lively finally do return.