NBA fans have seen this too many times before: Anthony Davis has left the game with an injury. The Dallas Mavericks star limped to the locker room during his team's Christmas Day face-off with the Golden State Warriors and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with right groin spasms, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
Davis already missed half the season due to a calf strain, so people will immediately fear the worst after seeing him sustain an apparent lower-body injury. Although rookie Cooper Flagg is emerging as a top offensive option, the Mavs still need an established difference-maker like No. 3 on the floor. Dallas is already in a double-digit deficit and will have a mighty difficult time in the second half if Davis does not return to action.
The fan base is understandably feeling low after all it has endured since the organization traded Luka Doncic in February, but there is actually reason for optimism. The Mavericks boast an intriguing roster that can surprise teams in the Western Conference. The problem, however, is that the squad is rarely healthy. Trusting Davis to be the face of the franchise, even in the short term, seems extremely risky given his extensive medical history.
The four-time All-NBA First-Team selection has logged 60 games in a single campaign only twice since 2019. There is a decent chance he will miss that mark once again this season. Dallas has its back against the wall following a 12-19 start to the year. It desperately needs some encouraging news on the Anthony Davis injury front. Perhaps head coach Jason Kidd will have some to provide after the Mavericks' showdown with the Warriors.
