Fired-up Anthony Davis dazzles in first half of Mavericks debut before suffering injury

In the blink of an eye, the feeling around Anthony Davis’s Dallas debut completely flipped.

Davis was ready to go — and then some — during his first Mavericks game.

But the team was left holding its breath in the second half.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) yells to the fans with teammate P.J. Washington during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Dallas. — Anthony Davis (right) yells to the fans with teammate P.J. Washington during the first half of the Mavericks’ 116-105 win over the Mavericks on Feb. 8, 2025.

Just two quarters into his first game with Dallas after a blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers, Davis had 24 points, 13 rebounds, five ᴀssists, three blocks in a 116-105 win over the in-state rival Rockets.

However, Davis suffered a lower-body injury while playing defense in the third quarter.

The team listed him as doubtful to return, and he did not re-enter.

He finished with 26 points, 16 rebounds and seven ᴀssists.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” coach Jason Kidd told reporters after the game.

The highlight of the opening half came with a little over 7:35 left in the first quarter, when Davis drove toward the hoop and collected his own miss before stuffing down a put-back jam.

Davis was hyped up after the bucket and celebrated with his teammates.

Then he started to do some crowd work at American Airlines Center, yelling exultantly with what lip-reading internet sleuths determined to be “I’m here! I’m here!”

During the third quarter, though, Davis went to defend near the paint, before falling to the ground with a non-contact injury — grabbing his groin area — before going to the locker room.

“Leg got тιԍнт, like a little spasm,” Davis said. “Came back and tried to get it loose and everything, obviously dealing with the ab, strained still. It wouldn’t loosen up and let go. But it’s nothing serious.”

He had recently been dealing with an abdominal strain.

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) hangs on the rim after dunking on Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason (17) and center Alperen Sengun (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Dallas. — Anthony Davis hangs on the rim after dunking on Tari Eason (17) and center Alperen Sengun (28) during the first half of the Mavericks’ win over the Rockets.

It’s been a whirlwind week for the Mavericks, their fans and Davis.

Before the game, the first one in Dallas since the Sunday morning trade that sent away the franchise’s cornerstone, fans protested, largely centering their anger toward general manager Nico Harrison.

One truck carrying signage outside the arena even had a message that said “Fire Nico.”

Davis told reporters on Friday that he understood why fans were angry with the team’s transition.

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