"No Emotions": Anthony Davis Downplays First Game Against Lakers Since Trade to Mavericks

Despite the Dallas Mavericks’ struggles, Anthony Davis‘s performance has been a bright spot. In their 135-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, Davis scored 27 points and nine rebounds, showing resilience despite visible discomfort during the game.

After two losses against the LA Clippers to cap off a two-game road trip, the Mavericks’ focus shifts to an upcoming matchup hosting the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Davis will play against his former team for the first time since the blockbuster trade that sent him to Dallas in February.

Davis conveyed a remarkably composed demeanor about the upcoming game, stating he has “no emotions” tied to the matchup.

Since being traded from Los Angeles, where he was once touted as the successor to LeBron James and helped secure a championship in 2020, Anthony Davis has been charting a new course with the Dallas Mavericks. His time in Dallas has been significantly shaped by injuries, both personal and among teammates, as the Mavericks strive to compete in the play-in race.

Anthony Davis Has Made an Impact Since an Adductor Strain

Davis recently returned from a lengthy absence caused by an adductor strain. Since being traded to the Mavericks, he’s averaged 20.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in seven games, helping lead a 5-2 record when in the lineup. However, Dallas will need to rise to the occasion against winning teams, with most of these games occurring against teams with losing records.

The Mavericks, sitting at 10th in the Western Conference with a 38-41 record, are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. Davis’s steady contribution will be crucial as they strive to secure their position in the play-in tournament.

From a big-picture standpoint, the trade that sent away franchise icon Luka Dončić, described by general manager Nico Harrison as a move to “win now and in the future,” has led to underwhelming results. Since the deal, Dallas has posted a 12-18 record and a 19-31 record since Dončić’s last game for the Mavericks due to a left calf strain. With Kyrie Irving having undergone surgery to repair a torn ACL, the short-term outlook for a win-now team with key players in their 30s is likely already lost.

“The future to me is 3-4 years from now,” Harrison said during an impromptu press conference after trading Dončić. “The future 10 years from now — they’ll probably bury me and [Jason Kidd] by then. Or we’ll bury ourselves.”

Meanwhile, the Lakers have gone 16-9 with Dončić in the lineup, while he averages 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists. With a 48-30 record and ranked third in the Western Conference, Los Angeles appears to be the team that made a trade that improved its team both now and in the future. The Lakers added a now 26-year-old, five-time All-NBA First-Team guard who makes James’ job easier as he continues to play into his 40s and has his heir apparent to build around.

“Luka is a one-of-a-kind, young global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,” Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said in February. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for this team. We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision that Coach Redick has for this basketball team, and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our loyal and dedicated fans. We are grateful for today and look forward to what’s next.”

Dallas Mavericks Struggled to Defend Against the LA Clippers

Coming off a blowout loss against the Clippers, in which they gave up 80 points in the paint despite having Davis and Dereck Lively II back from injury, the Mavericks have plenty to clean up before facing the Lakers.

“They’re healthy and their big three were able to get going,” Davis said of the Clippers on Saturday. “They had 80 points in the paint. It’s tough to beat any team when they score that many points in the paint. They’re playing great basketball right now and took care of business.”

Davis remains unfazed by the emotional weight of the game. His focus is apparent as he looks to help his team succeed in the final stretch of the regular season, regardless of the opponent. Dallas focuses on maximizing its outlook for the play-in tournament by taking it one game at a time.

“The biggest message is we got to stay hungry,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said after Saturday’s loss. “We haven’t achieved anything, even though we’ve been able, with all the injuries and restricted minutes, to keep ourselves in the play-in race. And so, we have to stay hungry. We had a big win at home against Atlanta. Unfortunately, we didn’t play up to par here against the Clippers.”

Dallas Mavericks Relying on Anthony Davis to Lead

The matchup between the Mavericks and Lakers is not just a test of Dallas’s playoff readiness but also a moment of reflection for Anthony Davis as he continues to define his legacy away from the bright lights of Los Angeles. Every game counts and could be the difference between hosting or going on the road for the 9-10 play-in matchup.

“We have to go back home now, and we have games with the Lakers and Toronto,” Kidd said. “Hopefully, we can protect home court, and we can get a little rhythm going into the play-in.”

Wednesday’s tipoff between the Mavericks and Lakers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CST at American Airlines Center.