After an embarrassing start to the season, Anthony Davis and Co. finally claimed their first win of the season against the Toronto Raptors. But they won’t have much time to reflect upon this win, as the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are on a 3-0 win streak, will be in town. While the majority of the Dallas players are set to play a part in this clash, questions remain about Anthony Davis.

Yes, the veteran forward will suit up against the Thunder tonight. This comes as a result of AD not being on the team’s injury report so far. Last night, the Brow showed up for his team as he finished the night with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Now the Mavericks will need Davis more than ever, as their opponent tonight is coming to this game in piping hot form, winning each of their first three games.

Despite the Mavs’ poor show, Davis is averaging a team-high 24.7 points per game along with 12 rebounds and 2.7 assists, and shooting 49% from the field. However, tonight’s game will be a real test for Anthony Davis and Co. as they welcome Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder to their home court. While AD is expected to play a huge role in this clash, several Dallas Mavericks stars will miss this game. Let’s look at who’s in and who’s out for this heavyweight battle between Dallas and OKC.

Dallas Mavericks injury report ahead of their clash with the OKC Thunder

The Dallas Mavericks are facing a backcourt crisis just three games into the season. The franchise already entered the 2025-26 campaign without their starting point guard, Kyrie Irving, who is predicted to be out for most of the upcoming season due to an ACL injury. But on top of that, the Mavs are now also without a couple more of their guards.

This includes the likes of Dante Exum and Brandon Williams, both of whom are expected to miss tonight’s game due to injuries. Exum is suffering from a knee injury and won’t participate in tonight’s action, whereas Williams is out with a personal issue. Nonetheless, the absence of all of these guards has been a daunting sight for the franchise as rookie sensation Cooper Flagg is compromising big time.

Flagg has been forced to play as a point guard by head coach Jason Kidd. Although the 18-year-old has been able to hold the lines, it is no secret that he would be much more impactful playing his natural game. Nonetheless, that’s something no one can help the Mavs with.

Meanwhile, the team’s injury troubles don’t end here, as backup forward Daniel Gafford is also set to miss tonight’s game against OKC. The 27-year-old is another key piece of the roster and has emerged as a solid off-the-bench player for the Mavericks. Last season, Gafford averaged 12.3 points along with 6.8 rebounds while shooting 70.2 percent from the field.

This stat line should give you an idea of just how useful he has been for his team. However, let’s look at how head coach Jason Kidd could field his starting five as they gear up for a massive clash with the OKC Thunder.

Dallas Mavericks’ predicted starting lineup for tonight’s game

While Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg are pretty much nailed on, the same cannot be said about all the others. Here’s how the Dallas Mavericks could start tonight:

So this is the starting lineup Coach Kidd could go ahead with for this game. Now, will this be enough for the Mavericks to get past a red-hot OKC team that’s coming into this game with three straight wins? That’s something we’ll have to wait and watch as the balls hit the air tonight at the American Airlines Center.