Anthony Davis of the Mavericks plays against the Lakers. Here’s what to watch for in his return

After the beginning listed as suspicious due to a calf strain that kept him out for about a month, Dallas Mavericks star Anthony Davis is reportedly expected to play against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. So what should fans expect to see from AD in his return from injury?

It goes without saying, but Friday’s contest will give Davis extra motivation. Last season, the Mavericks and Lakers agreed to a trade that landed Davis in Dallas Luka Dončić was moved to LA. Davis even recently admitted that he wants to play against the Lakers.

“You know what game I want to play (against the Lakers),” Davis he told reporters on Wednesdayvia Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. “But we’ll see. We’ll talk and see what makes the most sense with the medical and coaching staff.”

Two days later, a decision appears to have been made after the initial uncertainty.

Anthony Davis’ motivation could be bigger than minutes limitation

While nothing has been announced yet, one has to imagine Davis will have limited minutes coming back from injury after such a long layoff. The Mavericks know AD can provide a key boost in their efforts to upset the Lakers in Los Angeles, but Dallas also wants to avoid another Davis injury.

Davis could certainly have a big game. However, the minutes limit would limit his production. However, he is clearly motivated and will give everything he has while on the court.

AD vs. Luka

The players will likely downplay the matchup, but all eyes will be on Davis and Doncic as they play against their former teams. In addition, Cooper Flagg — the No. 1 overall pick in 2005 — will also receive attention. Flagg said he’s treating the contest as just another game, but fans will want to see how he plays against the former Mavs franchise star.

However, the story of AD vs. Luke is the most attention-grabbing element of the affair. Davis was unable to play last year when the Mavericks visited the Lakers, so this will be his first time playing against them in Los Angeles since the trade. Many analysts and fans called the trade a win for the Lakers, so Davis will surely want to prove them wrong and play especially well on Friday night.

How will Anthony Davis fit into the offense?

From a defensive standpoint, AD serves as an anchor. He can guard multiple positions and offers all-around defensive talent. Still, it will be interesting to see how he fits into the offense.

Before Davis was injured this season, Flagg was playing point guard. The Mavericks finally realized the experiment wasn’t working and Flagg reverted back to his natural position at power forward. AD will likely start at the four and Daniel Gafford at the three, so fans can expect to see him consistently at the high position.

If AD can find cutters (like Flagg) while also creating their own shot, the Mavs’ worst offense in the league should be able to take a step forward. In a perfect world, Dallas would have a playmaker for Davis as well. However, Dallas’ lack of true point guard options limits their options in that regard.

Still, Anthony Davis is poised to have a big performance Friday night against Luka Doncic and the Lakers — even with a potential minutes restriction.