Anthony Davis Stuns NBA Fans with Dominant Mavs Debut Before Exiting with Injury
Anthony Davis announced his presence in Dallas with an utterly dominant first half en route to leading the Mavericks to a 116-105 home win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
Unfortunately, Davis left the game late in the third quarter and did not return after suffering a non-contact ailment the Mavs initially termed a "lower body injury."
Entering Saturday, the 31-year-old hadn't played since Jan. 28, when the former Los Angeles Laker suffered an abdominal strain.
Days later, the Mavericks authored one of the most stunning trades in recent memory when they dealt five-time All-NBA player and 25-year-old guard Luka Dončić to the Lakers in a three-team deal that brought Davis back to Dallas.
That trade obviously hasn't been popular with Mavericks fans, who protested outside American Airlines Center before tipoff.
Amid that chaos, AD was exceptional, finishing with 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. He meshed quite well with his new teammates, particularly Kyrie Irving, who found him for a ferocious second-quarter slam.
Unfortunately, the AD show ended abruptly in the third quarter, and now fans play the waiting game to see the extent of his injury and the timeline for his return.
In the meantime, though, fans and analysts alike praised Davis for an incredible start to his Mavs tenure.
As for what's next in Dallas, the Mavericks have four more games on their current homestand, with the next one coming Monday against the Sacramento Kings.
They now stand 28-25, which is good enough for eighth in the Western Conference.
