Dallas Mavericks fans expressed their frustration on Saturday during the team’s first home game following the trade of Luka Dončić. The 25-year-old reigning scoring champion was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. Davis made his debut for the Mavericks amid protests and chants demanding the firing of general manager Nico Harrison outside the arena before the game.
The game began as Harrison had hoped, with Davis showcasing his skills by scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the first half. However, less than four minutes into the third quarter, Davis appeared to sustain a groin injury. He had recently returned from an abdominal strain earlier in the week.
Davis went down without any contact as Alperen Şengün of the Houston Rockets drove past him for a layup. He was seen grabbing his groin and slowly walking toward the offensive end, remaining in the corner near the Dallas bench while his team continued to run their offense.
After the Rockets regained possession, Davis did not attempt to return to the other end of the court. The Mavericks committed a foul to stop the clock and allow Davis to exit the game. He briefly stayed in the bench area before leaving the court and was not seen on the bench during the fourth quarter.
The 31-year-old center has a history of injuries but played a career-high 76 games last season. Despite the concerns surrounding Davis, the Mavericks secured a 116-105 victory, leaving fans anxious about his health moving forward.