Anthony Davis Out At Least 2 More Weeks, But Mavs Say He's Making Good Progress With Groin Injury

If the Dallas Mavericks can get mostly healthy by mid-March, there should be time for the defending Western Conference champions to play their way into a decent playoff position.

Coach Jason Kidd understands it might be a big "if."

"You're never guaranteed to be healthy," Kidd said Thursday after the Mavericks announced that recently acquired star Anthony Davis will be out at least two more weeks but is making "good progress" in recovery from a groin injury sustained in his Dallas debut .

"Beginning of the season, we had injuries right off the bat," Kidd said. "And so it would be great to get healthy. But if we're not healthy, we've got to deal with the cards that we have and put guys in a position to be successful."

The Mavericks are eighth in the West heading into their return from the All-Star break Friday night at home against last-place New Orleans. Dallas is well within range of the top six, which would avoid the play-in tournament.