Anthony Davis played his second game back from injury for the Los Angeles Lakers in Saturday’s 108-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Davis had been out of action for more than two months with calf and Achilles injuries, joined more recently on the sidelines by LeBron James.
The Lakers forward played 28 minutes on Saturday, scoring 17 points with three rebounds and three assists, after returning against the same opponent on Thursday with 17 minutes and four points.
While the result leaves the Lakers at 35-25 and still battling for their seeding in the NBA Western Conference alongside the Mavericks who are now 33-26.
“It’s like you’re starting over with the guys and just trying to find a connection with these guys again,” Davis said.
“They’re trying to find a connection with me. So, it’s like we’re starting from zero, which is tough so late in the season.”
The reigning champions are looming large in the West, with the Utah Jazz (44-16), Phoenix Suns (42-17), Los Angeles Clippers (43-19) and Denver Nuggets (39-21) above them.
The Jazz suffered a shock loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves 101-96, while the Nuggets were too good for the Houston Rockets 129-116.
In the East, Joel Embiid was out for the Philadelphia 76ers as they lost 132-94 to the Milwaukee Bucks, who had Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 24 points and have 14 rebounds.
The race for seedings in the East is mightily tight too, with the Brooklyn Nets on top with 40-20 and the 76ers second at 39-21, with the Bucks next at 37-22.
