Anthony Davis Exits Late Against Utah Jazz With Left Hand Injury As Dallas Mavericks Await Clarity

Grant AfsethJanuary 9, 2026January 9, 2026

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, NBA

Chris Gardner/Getty Images

Anthony Davis exited late in the Dallas Mavericks’ 116–114 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday night after sustaining a left hand injury, adding another layer of uncertainty to a season already marked by disrupted availability and thin margins.

The injury occurred with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter as Davis defended a drive by Lauri Markkanen. Davis grabbed his left hand in visible pain following the contact but initially remained in the game, signaling to the bench that he was OK. Utah scored on the ensuing possession before Dallas could stop play, and Davis then made his way down the tunnel. He did not return.

“He hurt his left hand,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s all we had at that point.”

A Critical Moment in a Close Game

The timing of Davis’ exit proved especially costly. Dallas had led late in the fourth quarter and was still within striking distance when the injury occurred, but his absence removed the Mavericks’ primary late-game option in the high post and a stabilizing defensive presence near the rim.

Kidd pointed directly to the sequence following the injury as a moment that swung momentum.

“Smart players take a foul,” Kidd said. “That’s what we should have done. He felt fine. We come back down, we don’t take the foul, they get a layup, and then we have to take a timeout. That’s the play. We’ll learn from it. We can take a foul, side out, and sub. My players are my guys. They said he was fine, and I thought he was fine.”

Without Davis on the floor, Utah capitalized, scoring on seven of its final nine possessions and closing the game on a decisive run.

Teammates Feel the Impact Immediately

The loss of Davis was felt instantly by the Mavericks on both ends of the floor. Late-game possessions that typically run through him — either as a scorer in the high post or as a release valve when pressure increases — were no longer available.

“That’s a go-to guy late in games,” Klay Thompson said. “High post, favorite spots, rise up over anyone. That was tough. We probably need to get more organized late. We’re a young team, so there will be growing pains.”

Dallas struggled to generate clean looks in the final minutes, leaning instead on difficult perimeter attempts as Utah tightened its defense.

“It takes a collective effort to come together and finish the game,” Cooper Flagg said. “I thought we went cold down the stretch. We can do a better job executing offensively. We also have to get stops. They hit some tough shots, but we have to make a stand.”

Part of a Stop-Start Season

Davis’ latest injury scare comes at a delicate point in the season for Dallas. The veteran forward has averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 20 games this season, anchoring both ends of the floor when available.

He had returned just a week earlier from a brief two-game absence related to a groin injury suffered during the Mavericks’ Christmas Day game. Earlier in the season, Davis also missed 14 games with a left calf strain.

Thursday’s injury involved Davis’ left hand — his non-shooting hand — but the Mavericks did not have further details postgame to share.

Kidd declined to speculate beyond the immediate aftermath, emphasizing that clarity would come later.

Awaiting Next Steps

Davis finished the game with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in 35 minutes, continuing a stretch in which he has shouldered a heavy load on both ends for a Dallas team fighting to stabilize its season.

The Mavericks will close their three-game road trip Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls, and Davis’ status looms as a key variable. Whether the injury proves to be minor or forces additional time missed will influence not only lineup decisions but also Dallas’ ability to execute late in games — an area that has already defined much of its season.

For now, the Mavericks are left waiting, once again, for clarity on the health of a cornerstone player as they attempt to halt a familiar pattern of close losses and late-game breakdowns.

This article will be updated later as more information is available.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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