While the Mavericks are still adjusting to their post-Luka Doncic reality, Anthony Davis’ debut on Saturday served as a necessary reminder that Dallas acquired an all-world talent in his own right.
Davis was tremendous in his first appearance as a Maverick, but things took a sobering turn late in the third quarter when he had to return to the locker room due to a non-contact injury.
Both Davis and the Mavericks indicated postgame that the big man’s exit was largely precautionary, but he has been ruled out for Monday’s game against the visiting Sacramento Kings due to a left adductor strain.
“Just the leg got tight, like a little spasm,” Davis said. “Just came back and tried to get it loose and everything. Obviously, dealing with the ab strain still, so just tried to get it loose. It wouldn’t really loosen up and let go, but it’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”
In Davis’ first half in a Dallas uniform, he tallied 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out five assists and added three blocks. Davis became the first player in the play-by-play era (since the 1996-97 season) to collect at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a single half.
“I was playing on a lot of emotions,” Davis said. “I know this city has a lot of emotions right now. Just trying to do my job and change that emotion for good. … Dallas fans know what they got in a player like me. So, a little friendly reminder of who Anthony Davis is.”
Despite the injury scare, the Mavericks secured a 116-105 win over the Houston Rockets. Davis exited his debut with 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists.
The Kings went through their own franchise-altering shake-up at the trade deadline, sending former franchise cornerstone De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in a trade that netted them Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko and six total draft picks.
The Kings fell short in each of LaVine’s first two games with the team earlier this week, but they’ve since rebounded with a 123-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
“You can talk about a lot and you can watch film, but there’s no supplement for experience,” LaVine said. “Especially being on the court with guys and seeing how they move, where they like the ball. All those nuances make a difference, especially with timing and things like that. We’re getting it down, but you’ve got to do it on the fly.”
With Fox now out of the fold, DeMar DeRozan takes the mantle as the Kings’ leading scorer with an average of 21.5 points per game. Domantas Sabonis chips in 20.5 points and an NBA-leading 14.3 rebounds per game, while Malik Monk adds 18.0 points per game.
While Davis will sit out on Monday, the Mavericks will continue to lean on Kyrie Irving (24.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists per game).
Monday marks the second meeting of the season between the teams. Sacramento beat the Mavericks 110-100 back on Dec. 30.
