The Mavericks’ Christmas showcase turned tense in a hurry. Dallas center Anthony Davis left the floor with an apparent groin injury in the middle of the game against Golden State. He headed straight to the locker room with trainers. The arena went quiet. The bench did too. Dallas lost its anchor in a flash, and the game changed on the spot.
What happened on the floor
Davis came off the court during live action, then walked with staff to the tunnel. He did not return immediately. The team is evaluating him, and there is no timetable yet. The bench rotated fast, but the ripple effects were clear. Dallas had to change its look on the fly.
The Mavericks leaned into pace and shot creation to cover the sudden hole at center. They closed lanes, switched more, and tried to survive on the glass. That is a hard task against the Warriors, who punish small mistakes and long rebounds.
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This is Dallas center Anthony Davis, not the Los Angeles Lakers star with the same name.
Why this matters right now
A groin injury can change a game plan in minutes. Davis gives Dallas size, screens, and rim protection. He sets the table for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving with hard rolls and second chances. Without him, spacing shifts. So do matchups. The Warriors tested the paint and forced Dallas to scramble in rotation.
Dallas will likely split the minutes with a mix of bigs and small units. Expect more switching, more five-out looks, and a push to control tempo. The Mavericks need to keep the glass even, limit fouls, and hunt easy buckets. That is the survival kit when a core big leaves mid game.
The rotation crunch
- Extra minutes for the next big in line, plus spot minutes from a stretch forward
- More touches for Luka and Kyrie in two-man actions to bend the defense
- Quick subs to manage foul trouble and keep a body on the rim
Davis’s role and what Dallas loses
Davis has been a steady piece in the middle. He does the dirty work. He screens, rebounds, and protects the rim. He puts pressure on the defense with dives and putbacks. Those plays do not always show up on highlight reels. They win possessions. They also keep stars fresh.
On defense, his presence changes shots. Guards chase over the top with more confidence when a true center sits behind them. The Warriors thrive on movement and cuts. Without Davis, every back cut feels sharper and every switch a tick slower. That is where the Mavericks need discipline, positioning, and help at the nail.
Early timelines on soft tissue injuries are often unreliable. The team will take its time before setting any return window.
What to watch for next
Eyes now shift to the official injury report. Dallas will update his status after initial exams, and possibly imaging if needed. In the short term, watch how head coach Jason Kidd manages the frontcourt. Do the Mavericks go small to speed up the game, or do they lean on size to steady the paint. The answer could swing the night.
- Game status, out or questionable, and any mention of imaging after the game
- First quarter of the next game, who starts at center and how the rotations stack
- Rebounding margin and second chance points, the hidden stat of Dallas wins
Fans should also track how this affects shot quality for Luka and Kyrie. Without Davis, defenders can stick to shooters and show extra bodies at the ball. Dallas will counter with quick hits, early offense, and drag screens to force switches. It is a chess match inside a sprint.
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If you see pregame work on the floor next time, light movement and no contact often signals a cautious ramp up.
The larger picture
Christmas games are a stage. Every possession matters. Losing a starting center in that setting cuts deep. It tests depth, trust, and habits built since camp. The Mavericks have preached toughness and next man up all season. Tonight puts that to the test against a savvy opponent that knows how to turn a crack into a run.
Davis’s health is the priority. Groin injuries demand patience. Rushing back can set a player back further. Dallas knows this, and will guard against it. The schedule does not slow down, but a healthy core matters more than a single game in December.
For now, the Mavericks will grind and adjust. They will ask more from their ball handlers, more from their wings on the glass, and more from every rotation piece. That is the cost when a pillar leaves mid game. We will have updates as soon as the team provides them.
