The final injury report is in for Pistons vs. Mavericks, and it is as tricky as it gets. Dallas heads into Thursday night with key names hanging in the balance. Anthony Davis is listed as Questionable with a left calf issue. D’Angelo Russell is listed as Probable with an illness and is expected to dress. Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II have been ruled out. The game tips at 8:30 p.m. local time, and the line has Detroit favored by 7.5 with a total of 228.5.

This is the kind of report that shapes how the night looks. It affects matchups, rotations, and even how bettors see the board. It also puts pressure on role players to step in right away.

Pistons vs Mavericks injury report: Who’s in, who’s out

Dallas’ list is crowded, and the statuses matter. According to the final reports filed before tip, the team is managing several injuries at once. The NBA’s official 12/18/25 report confirms Anthony Davis as Questionable with a left calf injury/contusion. Russell is Probable and ailing with an illness but expected to suit up. Kyrie Irving is out with a knee injury. Dereck Lively II is out with a right foot injury and, per reporting, expected to miss the rest of the season. Dante Exum is also out with a right knee/MCL issue. Brandon Williams is Questionable with an Achilles concern.

• Anthony Davis — Questionable (left calf injury/contusion)
• D’Angelo Russell — Probable (illness), expected to dress
• Brandon Williams — Questionable (Achilles)
• Kyrie Irving — Out (knee), out for an extended period
• Dereck Lively II — Out (right foot), expected to miss remainder of season
• Dante Exum — Out (right knee/MCL)

As AthlonSports framed it: “Mavericks list Davis, Russell as questionable; Irving and Lively II ruled out due to injuries.” That line sums up the tension going into the night perfectly.

“AD’s calf is the swing vote tonight.”

Anthony Davis status vs Pistons: The calf question

A Davis Questionable tag changes the feel of the game. A healthy Davis shifts the paint battle, rim protection, and second-chance plays. A limited Davis, or a late scratch, forces Dallas to play smaller and lean on spacing and speed. The calf contusion listing signals a game-time decision. Expect the training staff to test how he moves in warmups and how he handles quick lateral steps.

Why it matters is simple: paint touches and defensive rebounding. With Lively II out for the season per reports, Dallas needs size and timing at the rim. Davis provides both when available.

“No Kyrie, no Lively — who protects the rim and creates late?”

D’Angelo Russell illness update: Probable and expected to dress

Russell’s Probable tag steadies the guard rotation. Illness tags can be tricky, but the expectation is that he will dress. That matters for early offense. Russell’s handle and pick-and-roll pace help get teammates into spots. It also takes pressure off secondary ballhandlers. If he plays close to his usual minutes, Dallas gains a shooter who can bend a defense with pull-ups and swing passes.

Even if his minutes are managed, having him available shapes how Detroit has to guard at the point of attack. It changes the way traps and switches are called.

Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II ruled out: The ripple effect

Irving being out for an extended period with a knee issue removes a late-clock creator and a steady scoring source. In close games, that matters most. Without his isolation stardom, Dallas will need cleaner sets and better off-ball cuts to free looks.

Lively II’s right foot injury is an even bigger long-term blow. The report that he is expected to miss the rest of the season forces Dallas to rethink its paint defense and lob game. Rebounding and rim rolls usually start with size and timing; both are harder to replace on short notice.

“If Russell dresses, Dallas has a real shot to cover.”

Other Mavericks injuries to monitor

Dante Exum is out with a right knee/MCL issue, which hurts the perimeter defense and secondary playmaking. Brandon Williams is Questionable with an Achilles listing. If Williams can go, he provides energy and on-ball pressure. If not, minutes tilt toward depth options, which can strain lineups across the second and third quarters.

Betting outlook: Detroit favored by 7.5, total at 228.5

The market is saying Detroit -7.5 with a total of 228.5. That spread bakes in the risk around Davis and the confirmed absences of Irving and Lively II. If Davis is cleared, the number could tighten in live markets. If he sits, the line likely holds or nudges toward Detroit.

For totals, Russell’s status matters. If he plays and Dallas can keep pace with better spacing, the over comes into play. If the offense slows and the rotation shortens, an under script appears, especially if the game turns into a half-court grind.

Why this final report matters tonight

Final injury reports do more than mark names. They shape how coaches script the first six minutes, how they stagger rotations, and how they try to win the math of the game — threes, free throws, and rim attempts. With Dallas, the plan often hinges on who can create off the dribble and who can wall off the paint. The confirmed outs and the two big question tags make both items tough.

ClutchPoints captured the key storyline with its headline angle: “Anthony Davis playing Pistons? Injury report.” That is the central question. If the answer is yes, Dallas gets a force inside. If it is no, the challenge grows fast, especially against a Detroit side priced as a clear favorite.

The bottom line

Thursday’s tilt is a test of depth and timing for Dallas. The official listings tell the story: Russell likely in, Davis truly game-time, Irving and Lively II out, Exum out, and Williams a maybe. That is a lot to manage in one night.

Win or lose, how Dallas navigates this report will echo beyond tonight. If they find working lineups, they create a roadmap for the coming weeks. If not, the absence list keeps casting a long shadow. Either way, all eyes are on warmups — and on that calf.