Mavs, Anthony Davis To Decide Whether Surgery Necessary For Adductor Strain

February 10, 2025

The Dallas Mavericks are facing an uncertain future after newly-acquired star Anthony Davis was injured during his debut on Saturday, and the team fears he could be sidelined for an indefinite period. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Davis is expected to miss multiple weeks, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting that his absence could stretch to a month.

Davis is officially listed as out for Monday’s game against Sacramento due to a left adductor strain, as confirmed by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Internal discussions will take place on Monday to determine if Davis can avoid surgery, Stein added.

Despite the injury, Davis made an impressive debut for the Mavericks, posting 26 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists in 30 minutes of action, helping Dallas defeat Houston 128-113 to improve to 28-25. He also contributed three blocks, helping the Mavs set a franchise record with 18 total blocks in the game.

The injury occurred after Davis had been sidelined for over a week with an abdominal strain he sustained while with the Los Angeles Lakers.

After the game, Davis downplayed the severity of the issue, telling the media, “My leg got tight, like a little spasm. I came back to try to get it loose while still dealing with the abdominal strain. But I managed to loosen it up, and it’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”

Davis’ injury is particularly concerning given his history. He appeared in 76 games for the Lakers last season but had a lengthy injury history before that, playing no more than 62 games in each of the previous five seasons.

This latest setback is a disastrous development for the Mavericks, who are already facing backlash over the trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. The deal has been highly unpopular with Dallas fans, and their frustration may only grow as Davis remains sidelined while Doncic is poised to make his debut for the Lakers.

Davis, who was selected as a Western Conference All-Star, will certainly need to be replaced, adding another layer of pressure for the Mavericks.