Anthony Davis Injured Again, Mavericks Fall to Warriors on Christmas Day

An Early Exit That Crushes Dallas’ Hopes

The curse continues for Anthony Davis. During the NBA Christmas game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors, the 32-year-old forward was once again forced to leave the game early. This time, it was a right groin injury that ended his night after just 11 minutes of play.

An Injury History That Worries Dallas

The incident occurred with 8 minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the second quarter, with Dallas trailing 40-36. Davis attempted to sprint on a fast break but stopped abruptly, immediately limping to the bench before heading straight to the locker room. The Mavericks medical staff diagnosed right groin spasms, ruling the player out for the rest of the game.

At the time of his exit, Davis had modest statistics with 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal. P.J. Washington replaced him on the court, while Max Christie took his place in the starting lineup for the second half. This new injury comes in an already concerning context for the former Lakers player, who had already missed 14 consecutive games at the start of the 2025-2026 season due to a left calf strain.

Charles Barkley said Anthony Davis « is never going to be healthy. »

He followed that up by saying it’s Cooper Flagg’s team. « I would move on. …. This experiment is over. » pic.twitter.com/DIGCRVFB1d

— Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports) December 25, 2025

This new physical setback is part of a troubled streak for Davis since his arrival in Dallas. After being traded for Luka Dončić last February, the forward only played 9 games due to multiple injuries, including a left adductor strain in his debut with the Mavericks. He also suffered an eye injury requiring surgery during the offseason.

When available this season, Davis is posting solid averages of 21.7 points and 11.4 rebounds in 31 minutes per game. However, according to ESPN, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont had demanded medical data proving that Davis was « not at risk of aggravating » his previous calf injury before approving his return.

Against the Warriors, the Mavericks ultimately fell 126-116 despite 27 points from Cooper Flagg. This defeat keeps Dallas in 11th place in the Western Conference with a record of 12 wins and 20 losses. The team must now cope without its star forward, whose length of absence remains to be determined.