Davis completes 1st practice since injury; LeBron doubtful vs. Mavericks

Anthony Davis' return may be on the horizon.

The Los Angeles Lakers' star big man participated Monday in his first full five-on-five practice since suffering a midfoot sprain on Feb. 16, head coach Frank Vogel said, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Los Angeles is proceeding cautiously with Davis, however, listing the eight-time All-Star as doubtful for Tuesday's encounter with the Dallas Mavericks.

Davis isn't the only Lakers star unlikely to play in the contest. LeBron James, who sustained an ankle injury in Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, is also doubtful against Dallas.

The Lakers could use Davis and James back on the floor together as soon as possible. Their loss to New Orleans - in which the team blew a 23-point lead - allowed the Pelicans to leapfrog L.A. for ninth in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is now teetering on the edge of the play-in picture, just one game above the 10th-seeded San Antonio Spurs.

Compounding the Lakers' urgency is their upcoming schedule. With just eight games remaining, only one of L.A.'s opponents - the Oklahoma City Thunder - sits below it in the standings. The Spurs, meanwhile, have a slightly easier final stretch that includes three games against teams ranked beneath them. They face the Houston Rockets in a road game Monday before two consecutive home tilts against the Portland Trail Blazers over the weekend.

Remaining schedules

*mathematically eliminated from postseason
**clinched playoffs

Davis said earlier in March that he was "very optimistic" about returning to the Lakers' lineup before the end of the regular season. The 29-year-old has missed 16 games, during which L.A. is 4-12.

James, 37, sounded pessimistic about his ankle Sunday, saying it felt "horrible" following the loss to the Pelicans.