Dallas Mavericks Golden State Warriors NBA

‘Losing AD Definitely Hurt’: Anthony Davis Injury Overshadows Dallas Mavericks’ Christmas Loss To Golden State Warriors

Grant AfsethDecember 25, 2025December 26, 2025

Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, NBA

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The result was secondary to the reality that unfolded midway through the second quarter. The Dallas Mavericks left Chase Center on Christmas Day with far more questions than answers after Anthony Davis suffered a groin injury and was ruled out as Dallas fell 126–116 to the Golden State Warriors.

Davis exited the game at the 8:50 mark of the second quarter and did not return. The Mavericks announced he was dealing with groin spasms, removing their most important two-way player from a game that had already begun to tilt in Golden State’s favor.

“Losing AD definitely hurt,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “One of our best players goes out. But the next man up. I thought the guys fought, but we couldn’t get a stop when we needed to. It’s a good game for us to learn from.”

The loss dropped Dallas to 12–20 overall and 3–11 on the road. Golden State won its third straight to improve to 16–15.

Anthony Davis’ Injury Occurs Mid-Quarter

Davis’ injury occurred during a transition play that initially appeared routine. As the Mavericks pushed the ball up the floor, Davis pulled up while trying to run, immediately grabbing at his groin area. He headed to the bench, where he was evaluated by the medical staff while holding his groin before eventually walking to the locker room.

He finished with three points, three rebounds, and two blocked shots in just under 11 minutes of action.

The Mavericks ruled Davis out shortly after halftime, confirming groin spasms as the reason for his absence.

The injury adds another layer of concern for a season already shaped by Davis’ availability. Davis is averaging 20.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 16 games this season, but his on-court impact has often been interrupted by health setbacks.

Thursday marked the second time this season one of Davis’ appearances ended in the first half before he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Availability Has Defined the Season

Davis has already missed significant time this season, most notably a left calf strain that sidelined him from Oct. 29 through Nov. 28. The Mavericks have managed his workload carefully since his return, limiting his participation in back-to-back games for much of December before recently allowing him to begin playing them again.

Dallas’ record reflects his absence. The Mavericks are 4–12 in games Davis has not played this season, with 18 total games directly impacted by injuries involving the veteran big man.

One year earlier on Christmas Day at Chase Center, Davis exited early with a left ankle injury. The year before that, Luka Dončić left the Mavericks’ Christmas game against Minnesota with a calf strain — the final game of his Dallas tenure.

After the game, Kidd declined to provide further detail on Davis’ status moving forward.

The On-Court Ripple Effect for the Dallas Mavericks

Even before Davis exited, Dallas was already chasing the game. Golden State opened with a 40–28 first-quarter lead, fueled by pace, ball movement, and an early rebounding edge.

Once Davis went down, the Mavericks’ margin for error narrowed significantly.

Golden State took advantage of the shift, with Al Horford — playing his first game in seven contests due to right leg sciatica — drilling four three-pointers in a five-minute span. By halftime, the Warriors led 71–58 and had already attempted more three-pointers than Dallas would take all afternoon.

Without Davis, the Mavericks leaned into smaller lineups and extended minutes for Daniel Gafford, but the structural absence was evident. Dallas struggled to rebound, protect the rim, and match Golden State’s spacing.

“We fought,” Kidd said. “The schedule hasn’t been in our favor. We started this trip on the East Coast, and now we’re here in San Francisco. They got it down to six there for a second, and we just weren’t able to rebound the ball.”

Cooper Flagg Responds as Roles Shift

With Davis sidelined, Cooper Flagg was asked to shoulder more responsibility, and the rookie delivered a poised Christmas Day debut.

Flagg finished with 27 points on 13-of-21 shooting, six rebounds and five assists, scoring 10 points in the second quarter after Davis exited and continuing to attack throughout the second half.

“It’s tough,” Flagg said. “Obviously, it’s really unfortunate for us. We’re a better team when he’s on the court, when he’s playing at his best. Obviously tough, but we got to have the next-man-up mentality and try and fill the hole as best we can.”

Kidd praised Flagg’s response.

“He was great,” Kidd said. “Cooper is doing everything out of pick-and-roll — screening, passing, doing everything we’ve asked him to do. He might have been a little frustrated missing some free throws, but overall he’s playing at a very high level for us, and we need that.”

Bigger Questions Ahead

Dallas briefly cut the deficit to single digits behind a season-high 26 points from Brandon Williams, but the Mavericks never fully overcame the absence of Davis or the three-point disparity. Golden State attempted 50 threes to Dallas’ 14, a gap that ultimately proved decisive.

Any remaining hope faded when Stephen Curry drilled a deep three with 3:44 remaining, pushing the Warriors’ lead back to 11 and sealing the outcome.

The Mavericks now head to Sacramento awaiting clarity on Davis’ condition — again navigating a season defined as much by availability as by results.

Christmas came and went. For Dallas, the focus now shifts squarely to Anthony Davis’ health and what comes next.

Latest Dallas Mavericks News & NBA Rumors

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.

view all posts

Archives