‘Didn’t Want To Take Any Chances’: Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis Exits Win Over Indiana Pacers With Lower Leg Soreness

Grant AfsethOctober 30, 2025October 30, 2025no comment

Nick White/DallasHoopsJournal.com

Star power forward and center Anthony Davis exited Wednesday’s 107–105 win over the Indiana Pacers with what the Dallas Mavericks described as left lower leg soreness, adding to an already lengthy injury list for the team.

Davis was ruled out at halftime after limping off midway through the first quarter. The 32-year-old appeared to tweak his lower leg after finishing a layup and immediately signaled to the bench that he needed to come out. He crouched near the sideline during a timeout with 4:12 remaining before heading to the locker room for further evaluation.

“He tried to return — didn’t want to take any chances,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said postgame. “We’ll see how he feels moving forward.”

Davis had been listed as probable on the pregame injury report with bilateral Achilles tendinopathy. He finished with four points and four rebounds on 2-of-4 shooting in seven minutes, starting at center in place of Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) and Daniel Gafford (right ankle sprain).

Ongoing Injury Challenges

The Mavericks entered the night already missing key rotation players. Lively was sidelined for the second straight game with a right knee sprain, and Gafford has yet to make his season debut after spraining his ankle in the opening practice of training camp.

Dallas also remains without All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who continues to recover from ACL surgery performed in March. The team has not provided a timetable for his return.

Danté Exum, who sustained a right knee injury earlier this month, also remains out indefinitely as he works through injury management. Kidd said there is no update yet on either player’s availability.

The Mavericks’ absences left Kidd relying heavily on depth options, with Davis starting in a small-ball alignment before his early exit. Dallas went on to rally behind bench production from Brandon Williams, Dwight Powell, and D’Angelo Russell to secure its second win of the season.

Anthony Davis’ Recovery History

Davis appeared in just nine regular-season games for Dallas last season after arriving as the centerpiece of the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade. He was recovering from an abdominal injury at the time of the deal and later strained his adductor in his Mavericks debut, sidelining him for six weeks.

Known for his All-NBA pedigree when healthy, Davis’ availability remains a major storyline for a Mavericks team still searching for consistency early in the season.

Dallas improved to 2–3 with Wednesday’s win, closing its five-game homestand before heading to Mexico City to face the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Kidd said the team will evaluate Davis in the coming days before determining his status for that matchup.

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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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