As a bonus, the 30-year-old Anthony Davis returned to action on Thursday night after missing nearly a month. He went head-to-head against the Los Angeles Lakers. It was his return after missing action since October 29 with a left calf strain. Although the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Lakers 129-119, Davis received a warm welcome from Lakers fans, indicating his lasting impact on the franchise.
During the pregame introductions, Davis garnered loud applause from the audience, reflecting the affection and respect he has earned during his time with the Lakers. In the battle, he had 12 points and 5 rebounds. He dished out 5 assists and blocked 3 shots in only 28 minutes of action, just over his minutes limit. He was 6-of-10 from the field and didn’t shoot a single free throw.
Though the Mavericks were back in action, the season was extremely challenging. Their loss to the Lakers dropped them to an exasperating 5-15 record. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic had a masterful performance with 35 points and 11 assists. The team’s struggles have compounded with recent changes in management. Nico Harrison was dismissed as general manager earlier in the month, amid continued injury issues affecting key players like Davis.
Davis has been vocal about his excitement to return ever since a few weeks before the game. His personal medical staff had finally given him the green light to play in a matchup against the Washington Wizards. He was deep-sixed from that match.
“Any time you’re sitting down and you see these guys, especially in close games, you wish you could be out there,” – Anthony Davis
Current teammate JJ Redick, who had played alongside Davis with the Pelicans, explained the importance of his return. With a promise to provide Davis with the “requisite level of attention” on this own critical return,
Davis’s path to the Mavericks has made plenty of headlines. That interest hit a fever pitch after his blockbuster trade from the Lakers on February 2. That deal included the deal for sending Doncic to Los Angeles as well, further enmeshing their careers.
For all of Davis’s sparse involvement in Thursday night’s affair, his impact was surely felt both on and off the court. He took some credit for the effect he’s had on Doncic’s growth as a player.
“He’s one of the best players to ever touch a basketball,” – Luka Doncic
After a surprisingly bad first half of the season, the Mavericks are deep in the lottery. With Davis’s situation moving forward in question, he sits out against the LA Clippers Saturday night as he works to get back from injury. The team must now regroup and address their challenges without one of their star players.
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