Davis Downplays Injury Following Mavericks Debut
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Synopsis
Anthony Davis' debut for the Dallas Mavericks ended prematurely due to a non-contact injury during their 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets. Despite a solid performance, he reassured fans postgame that the injury was not serious.
Key Takeaways
- Davis scored 26 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in his debut.
- He suffered a non-contact injury while defending.
- Teammates Thompson and Irving contributed significantly to the win.
- Dallas held a strong halftime lead but faced a comeback from Houston.
- Davis reassured everyone that his injury was minor.
Dallas, Feb 9 (NationPress) Anthony Davis' much-anticipated debut for the Dallas Mavericks was cut short due to a non-contact injury during their 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets.
The 31-year-old forward made the switch to Dallas from the Los Angeles Lakers last week in a significant trade involving NBA All-Star Luka Doncic. Despite fan outcry over Doncic’s departure to the Lakers, Davis showcased an impressive performance, putting up 26 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists before leaving the contest.
Davis fell to the ground, clutching his lower body late in the third quarter while trying to defend against a driving dunk by Houston’s Alperen Sengun. Mavericks teammates Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving each added 13 points to secure the win.
Having sat out the previous game against the Boston Celtics due to an abdominal strain sustained in his last outing with the Lakers on January 28, Davis was met with a warm reception from the home crowd when he assisted Daniel Gafford early in the first quarter.
The Mavericks established a strong 65-48 halftime lead, but Houston made a push in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to just two points. Nevertheless, crucial three-pointers from Naji Marshall and key plays by Irving allowed Dallas to regain control and hand the Rockets their sixth consecutive loss.
Postgame, Davis reassured the media that his injury was not serious, stating, “My leg got tight, like a little spasm. I came back to try to loosen it up while still coping with the abdominal strain, but it’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”
