Newly acquired Anthony Davis made a strong debut with the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 26 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, providing seven assists, and recording three blocks in a 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets. However, his impressive performance was marred by a minor injury that cut his game short.
Davis joined the Mavericks from the Los Angeles Lakers last week in a shocking trade that sent Luka Dončić to Los Angeles, sparking considerable backlash among Mavericks fans. Prior to the game, a large crowd protested the controversial trade outside the American Airlines Center, but Davis received a warm welcome during warmups and the starting lineup introductions.
The nine-time All-Star made an immediate impact in the emotionally charged game, contributing an assist and a block within the first two minutes. He then scored his first points for the Mavericks shortly after. Midway through the first quarter, Davis showcased his energy with a putback dunk, exclaiming, “I’m here!” as the crowd erupted in applause.
“Just playing with a lot of emotion,” Davis told reporters after the game when asked about the moment. “I know this city has a lot of emotion right now, just trying to do my job and change that emotion for good … It’s a little reminder of who Anthony Davis is.”
In addition to Davis's performance, Max Christie, who was also part of the trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers, contributed 23 points for the Mavericks.
In other league news, Jimmy Butler made his debut for the Golden State Warriors, scoring 25 points to help his new team overcome a 24-point deficit in the third quarter and secure a 132-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls, one of his former teams.
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