While Mavericks is still adapting to his reality to Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis served on Saturday as a necessary reminder that Dallas acquired an all -world talent in his own right.
Davis was huge in his first performance as a Maverick, but things took a sober trip late in the third quarter when he had to return to the dressing room due to a non-contact injury.
Both Davis and Mavericks indicated after the game that the big man’s outcome was largely caution, but he has been excluded for Monday’s play against the visiting Sacramento kings because of a left adductor tribe.
“Only the leg got tight, like a small cramp,” Davis said. “Just came back and tried to loosen it and everything. Obviously, AB still handled AB, so just tried to loosen it. It wouldn’t really loosen and release, but it’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”
In Davis’s first half in a Dallas uniform, he counted 24 points on 9-AV-13 shooting, took 13 returns, pulled out five assists and added three blocks. Davis became the first player in the Play-by-play (since the 1996-97 season) to collect at least 20 points, 10 returns, five assists and three blocks in a single half.
“I played on many emotions,” Davis said. “I know this city has many feelings right now. Just trying to do my job and change that feeling for good. … Dallas -fans know what they got in a player like me. So a little kind reminder of who Anthony Davis is. ”
Despite the injury horror, Mavericks secured a victory 116-105 over Houston Rockets. Davis left his debut with 26 points, 16 returns and seven assists.
The kings went through their own franchise-changing shaking at the trade deadline and sent the former Franchise corner de’aaron Fox to San Antonio Spurs in a trade that netted them Zach Lavine, Sidy Cissoko and six total drafts.
Kings became short in each of Lavine’s first two matches with the team earlier this week, but they have since recovered with a victory 123-118 over New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
“You can talk a lot and you can watch movies, but there is no supplement for experience,” Lavine said. “Especially to be on the track with guys and see how they move, where they like the ball. All these shades make a difference, especially with timing and such. We get it down, but you have to do it on the go.”
With Fox now out of the crease, Demar Derozan Manteln takes when King’s leading goal scores with an average of 21.5 points per match. Domanta’s Sabonis chips in 20.5 points and an NBA leading 14.3 returns per match, while Malik Monk adds 18.0 points per match.
While Davis will be sitting out on Monday, Mavericks will continue to lean on Kyrie Irving (24.1 points, 4.6 returns, 4.8 assists per match).
Monday marks the second meeting of the season between the teams. Sacramento beat Mavericks 110-100 back on December 30.
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