Anthony Davis played his first game in Dallas Mavericks’ colors. However, while the Mavericks secured a 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets, Davis had a mixed bag. Following the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade, the expectations for Davis were shooting through the sky. Thankfully, the 31-year-old did not disappoint. In what was a sublime outing, Davis registered 26 points, seven assists, and 16 rebounds.
Anthony Davis (Image Credit: X/@GameInjuryDoc)
Unfortunately, just when things seemed to be going perfectly fine, Davis had a non-contact injury. During the third quarter, Davis tried to defend a driving dunk from Alperen Sengun. Soon after, Davis could be seen down on the ground, clutching his abdomen. Escorted out of the game, the scene certainly sent shockwaves through the Mavericks’ fans. With slow-mo video clarifying the situation, a possible Grade II strain could not be ruled out initially. This would mean Davis sitting out for at least 4 to 5 weeks.
Thankfully, as it turns out, the injury is not serious. “My leg got tight, like a little spasm. I came back to try to get it loose while still dealing with the abdominal strain. But I managed to loosen it up, and it’s nothing serious. I’m fine,” Davis said in an interaction with Grant Afseth from Dallas Hoops Journal. Meanwhile, with the fans pretty much enraged about the Luka Doncic trade, Davis tried to address the situation recently.
Anthony Davis Tries To Calm Mavericks’ Fans
Ever since Luka Doncic’s trade came to light, the Dallas Mavericks fans have gone berserk. Doncic, a fan favorite, made some significant contributions to taking the Mavericks to the NBA Finals. Thus, with such a shock exit, the fans naturally are having a tough time wrapping their heads around the incident. Trying to address the gravity of the situation, Anthony Davis recently addressed the issue publicly.
“I’m not surprised by the fans’ reaction and the city’s reaction. But it’s my job to come in and play basketball and do what I’m supposed to do and give the fans hope and reassurance on why Nico brought me here,” Davis said while speaking to the Dallas Morning News.
Surely, Anthony Davis is trying hard to make up for the loss of Luka Doncic. Whether or not he succeeds will be the big question to answer.
VIDEO: Anthony Davis Wastes No Time Introducing Himself To Mavericks Fans During His Dominating Debut
Anthony Davis (Image Credit: X/@cjzero)
The blockbuster Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis’ trade continues to stir conversations. But only one of the stars has taken the floor for his new team. While Doncic has yet to make his Lakers debut, Davis made his first appearance in a Dallas Mavericks uniform on Saturday night against the Houston Rockets.
Davis’ arrival immediately made an impact, helping the Mavericks secure a 116-105 victory in their first home game since the trade. He wasted no time making his presence felt.
Early in the game, he threw down an emphatic putback dunk off a missed shot. He then turned to the Mavericks’ crowd, shouting, “I’m here, I’m here.” It was a clear message to Dallas fans that he was ready to take on his new role despite their frustration with the trade.
Davis scored 14 points in the opening period alone. By the time the 10-time All-Star exited the game, he had added 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, including a perfect 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. He also added 13 rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and, notably, did not commit a single turnover.
Anthony Davis Shares Update On His Injury In His Debut Game
Anthony Davis’ first game in a Mavericks uniform ended on a concerning note. Late in the third quarter, he attempted to defend a dunk by Houston’s Alperen Sengun but went down clutching his lower body. After the game, Davis addressed his condition, reassuring reporters that the injury was not serious.
“My leg got tight, like a little spasm. I came back to try to get it loose while still dealing with the abdominal strain. But I managed to loosen it up, and it’s nothing serious,” Davis said.
Davis had already missed Dallas’ previous game against the Boston Celtics due to an abdominal strain and was sidelined for his final two games with the Lakers before the trade. With his history of health concerns, the Mavericks are taking a calculated risk in banking on a 31-year-old star with a lengthy injury record. Whether this move will pay off for Dallas remains to be seen.
