After one of many wildest seasons by any workforce in fashionable NBA historical past, the Dallas Mavericks are formally headed into the offseason. The Mavericks banded collectively to get a highway win on Wednesday evening within the first play-in sport over the Sacramento Kings, however this hobbled model of Jason Kidd’s group was no match for the Memphis Grizzlies in a 120-106 loss on Friday evening.
In fact, just one Maverick introduced their A-game to the ground on Friday. Anthony Davis was spectacular on the offensive finish of the ground and carried Kidd and firm. He was getting buckets from everywhere in the courtroom, barely maintaining Dallas within the sport all through a lot of the first three quarters.
Nonetheless, within the third quarter, Davis appeared to be combating an damage and limping round. He was getting ice on his groin, which he already missed time with this season, earlier than persevering with to play. Within the fourth quarter, Davis was getting his proper calf handled on the bench at a timeout earlier than briefly returning.
All of this was taking place in a sport that was basically out of attain for all the fourth quarter. Mavericks followers blasted Kidd and the Mavericks on social media for leaving an injured Davis on the market to dry.
The Mavs must take AD out of this sport badly, I don’t care when you’ve obtained a shot at profitable it, don’t kill your greatest participant and f**ok up subsequent season too simply to get slaughtered by the Thunder within the first spherical.
— Tobias (@havardihoops) April 19, 2025
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I respect AD nonetheless tryna play harm however it’s over dawg take him out
— Blue 🖤🎭💙 (@TripleOGBlue) April 19, 2025
the Mavs higher take AD out earlier than he misses the entire of subsequent season
— alphaPlug🇺🇸 (@Nokor32) April 19, 2025
The obvious damage did not harm Davis’ manufacturing. He completed the sport with 40 factors and 9 rebounds on 16-for-29 taking pictures. He was a continuing supply of offense for the Mavericks regardless of seeing double groups within the submit and going through lots of totally different appears to be like, however it wasn’t sufficient for this overwhelmed Mavericks group.
The excellent news is that Davis seemingly escaped this sport with out struggling a extra critical damage and can now be capable of give attention to the offseason with the remainder of the group. Nico Harrison and the remainder of the entrance workplace has lots of work to do to get this roster again into rivalry, particularly with Kyrie Irving slated to overlook a big chunk of subsequent season.