The health of Anthony Davis remains a recurring concern for the Dallas Mavericks, whether for purely sporting reasons or to maintain his market value in the NBA. The star big man went down during a fast break in the Mavericks’ Christmas Day clash against the Golden State Warriors, sparking concern across the team and fans alike.
Shams Charania reported that this time it is a “minor setback.” The issue is not just this particular injury, but a series of physical problems that continue to interrupt Davis’ rhythm. The forward has struggled to find consistency this season, posting numbers below his usual standards when fully healthy.
Davis is expected to miss a “few games”, according to Charania. While the term suggests only a short absence, Davis’s history with recurring injuries makes the situation unpredictable.
The groin has flared up again, forcing Davis to sit out an undefined number of games. His groin had been mostly problem-free since April, though he missed several matches in the first quarter of the year due to the same issue. Earlier this season, his absences were mainly related to calf problems, causing him to miss 16 of the Mavericks’ 32 games so far.
Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on.
What happened to Davis during the game?
While sprinting on a fast break in the second quarter on Thursday, Davis suddenly stopped, clutching his groin as a pass from Naji Marshall sailed out of bounds. Grimacing in pain, Davis walked to the Dallas bench and was evaluated by the team’s medical 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 start of the second half due to right groin spasms. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd did not provide an update on Davis after the game.
Davis’ numbers so far
Before Thursday’s matchup, Davis had scored over 30 points in two consecutive games. He posted 31 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals in the Mavericks’ win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday.
Davis missed significant time last NBA season with groin and abdomen injuries and has appeared in only 16 of Dallas’ 32 games this season. In those appearances, he is averaging 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game.
