Anthony Davis is expected to miss the Dallas Mavericks’ upcoming matchup against the Detroit Pistons in Mexico City. According to Marc Stein, the All-Star big man is likely to be ruled out after leaving Wednesday night’s game with left lower leg soreness.
“Anthony Davis is expected to be ruled out of Dallas’ game Saturday in Mexico City against Detroit after exiting Wednesday night with left lower leg soreness,” Stein reported.
The Mavericks have now confirmed the diagnosis, and it appears the injury is not severe but will still require time to heal. The team plans to proceed with caution as Davis recovers and avoids aggravating the issue further.
“Mavericks’ Anthony Davis has sustained a low-grade calf strain and will miss the next two games and be re-evaluated,” reported Shams.
Davis, 32, played just six minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Pacers, finishing with four points and four rebounds before exiting in the first half after showing visible pain and discomfort. Head coach Jason Kidd offered little clarity postgame, fueling concern among fans who feared the injury could be something more serious. Fortunately, tests revealed that it was a minor calf strain rather than a long-term setback. He should make a full recovery after missing just a few games, but he’s not entirely in the clear.
This latest injury serves as a reminder of Davis’ ongoing struggle with availability. As dominant as he can be when healthy (averages of 20.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game this season), his durability has been a question mark throughout his career. From his days with the Pelicans to his championship run with the Lakers, injuries have always been the one thing holding him back from sustained greatness.
The problem for Dallas is that they do not have the luxury of a LeBron James to carry them while Davis heals. With Kyrie Irving still recovering, Klay Thompson inconsistent, and Cooper Flagg still learning the ropes, the Mavericks depend heavily on Davis to anchor both ends of the floor. Plus, as the guy they traded Luka Doncic for, he’s under the most pressure to fill his shoes as the leading star.
In truth, if the Mavericks want to stay competitive in the West, they’ll need to find a way to manage Davis’ workload and keep him available for the long haul. Otherwise, his injury-prone history could once again derail another team’s championship aspirations.
On the surface, Anthony Davis is one of the best two-way bigs in basketball when he’s on the floor, but staying there has always been his biggest challenge. For the Mavericks to reach their full potential, they need Davis healthy and locked in for the stretch run. Missing a few games in November isn’t the end of the world, but it’s a reminder of how fragile their success can be. If Dallas wants to be taken seriously as a contender, Davis has to find a way to stay available when it counts the most. So far, the results have not been ideal, but there’s still time to recover.
