When Anthony Davis’ right leg became too painful to play on two months ago, the big man and the Lakers decided he wouldn’t return until he was completely ready to be himself again. More than two months later, Davis is confident that time has arrived with 14 regular-season games left in the Lakers’ push to defend their NBA title. Davis intends to play Thursday when the Lakers face the Mavericks in Dallas, he said after a workout Wednesday. He hasn’t suited up since Feb. 14, missing the Lakers’ last 30 games in the longest injury absence of his nine-year career. “I wanted to make sure I was ... 100%, because it wouldn’t be fair to myself, wouldn’t be fair to my team,” Davis said. “I feel great.” The Lakers (35-23) have managed to stay in the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference standings despite playing without Davis for nine weeks and without LeBron James since March 20. Coach Frank Vogel said James is still “probably a couple of weeks or so” away from returning from his sprained ankle. Davis will start when he returns, but will only play about 15 minutes in his first game back.

The brother of George Floyd thanked the Raiders for their support after owner Mark Davis issued a statement on Twitter that drew backlash following the conviction of a police officer who killed Floyd. Philonise Floyd issued a statement Wednesday, a day after the tweet sent on the team’s official account saying “I CAN BREATHE 4-20-21.” George Floyd told officers “I can’t breathe” more than 20 times before he was killed when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck last May. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter Tuesday. “On behalf of our family, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the Raiders organization and its leadership for their support of our family and for our nation’s pursuit of justice and equality,” Philonise Floyd, above, said. “Now, more than ever, we must come together.” The phrase “I can breathe” was used by supporters of police in New York after the death of Eric Garner in 2014. Davis said he wouldn’t have used that phrase if he knew the history but chose not to delete the tweet.

Robert Lewandowski returned to training with the Bayern Munich team on Wednesday as the Polish striker aims to break a longstanding record for most goals in a Bundesliga season. Lewandowski pulled a ligament in his knee during Poland’s win over Andorra in World Cup qualifying last month and missed both legs of Bayern’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinals. Manager Hansi Flick hopes Lewandowski can return in time for Bayern’s game at Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Lewandowski has 35 goals from 25 league games with four matches left in which to break Gerd Müller’s record of 40 goals from the 1971-72 season. “I don’t know whether I can do that (break the record), but I hope when I’m back out there that I can show my level from the first minute and score goals straight away,” Lewandowski said on the club website Tuesday. Bayern can win the Bundesliga title for a record-extending ninth time in a row with a victory over Mainz. Bayern holds a 10-point lead over second-place Leipzig. —Associated Press