NBA: Mavs’ Anthony Davis says he is ‘fine’ after injury

Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) waits for a time out in front of the bench during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Anthony Davis downplayed an injury that cut short his Dallas Mavericks debut, calling his latest bout with lower abdomen discomfort a “spasm.”

Davis, who was traded to the Mavericks from the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday while in recovery mode from an abdomen strain, scored 26 points with 16 rebounds in 31 minutes before departing for good late in the third quarter Saturday against the visiting Houston Rockets.

Davis clutched at his lower abdomen on a non-contact play, similar to how he reacted when he originally came away with the injury in a Jan. 28 game for the Lakers against the Philadelphia 76ers.

READ: NBA: Anthony Davis powers Mavs past Rockets before exiting with injury

“My leg got tight, like a little spasm,” Davis said after Dallas’ 116-105 victory over Houston. “I came back to try to get it loose while still dealing with the abdominal strain. But I managed to loosen it up, and it’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”

Davis, who turns 32 next month, was scoring 25.7 points with 11.9 rebounds in 42 games for the Lakers before the trade. In 13 seasons, Davis has averaged 24.2 points with 10.7 rebounds in 779 games (772 starts).

The Mavericks next play at home on Monday against the Sacramento Kings.