Dallas Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford will return Monday against the Brooklyn Nets after missing 21 games due to a knee sprain, the team announced.
The Mavs will limit Gafford to 15-20 minutes of action in his return, according to Athlon Sports’ Grant Afseth.
The 26-year-old is averaging a career-high 12.3 points with 6.9 rebounds in 51 games this season.
Dallas will pair Gafford with star forward Anthony Davis for just the second time this season, as the duo has struggled to stay healthy since Davis joined the team in February.
However, the Mavs are still thin up front, with starting center Dereck Lively II unavailable because of a broken ankle.
After a disastrous month, the Mavericks have steadied the ship and look poised to make the play-in game. The club has a two-game lead ahead of the 11th-placed Phoenix Suns for ninth in the West. Dallas has seven games left in the regular season.
