Another Christmas Day game, another key injury for Anthony Davis and the Mavericks.
For the second consecutive year, Davis left his team’s holiday matchup because of an injury.
The Mavericks big man exited Thursday’s 126-116 loss to the Warriors in the second quarter, the latest in what has been an injury-riddled season for Davis.
When running on a fast break, Davis suddenly stopped and appeared to be grabbing at his groin as a pass from Naji Marshall sailed out of bounds. Davis, grimacing in pain, walked straight to the Dallas bench and was assessed by the team’s training staff during the timeout before limping to the locker room.
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He did not return to the bench and was ruled out at the beginning of the second half because of right groin spasms. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd did not provide an update on Davis after the game.
In his absence, Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with 27 points, six rebounds and five assists.
“It’s tough,” Flagg said after the game. “It’s really unfortunate for us. I feel like we’re a better team with him on the court and when he’s playing at his best. Obviously tough, but we gotta have a next man up mentality and try to fill the hole the best we can.”
Just a year after Luka Doncic exited Dallas’ Christmas game against the Timberwolves with a calf injury in what ended up being his final game as a Maverick, Davis suffered his second consecutive injury on the annual holiday. Last season, Davis sustained a left ankle sprain midway through the first quarter against the Warriors at Chase Center.
Prior to his latest injury, Davis had 3 points and 3 rebounds in 10 minutes. He missed significant time with groin and abdomen injuries last season and has played in just 15 of Dallas’ 31 games so far this season due to calf injuries.
Since his return from his calf injury, Davis was averaging 23.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
Dallas is already thin in its frontcourt with Dereck Lively II out for the season after undergoing season-ending foot surgery and Daniel Gafford playing through an ankle injury.
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