On Monday, the Delta Center erupted in an old rhythm. The kind that only an NBA champion can bring to the floor. It was Anthony Davis in his usual style, while the Utah Jazz stood wondering how to stop him. After a series of injuries, an eye surgery, and only 9 games in the Mavericks jersey later, the 32-year-old power forward is back. And Davis is helping head coach Jason Kidd refine his plans for the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Dallas Mavericks finally found their spark, crushing the Jazz 114 to 101. Meanwhile, Kidd’s pregame challenge worked like magic as Dallas fired 53 threes, nearly twice their last outing. They moved fast, attacked smart, and ruled inside with a 59 to 48 rebound edge and 10 massive blocks.

On the other hand, Anthony Davis owned the floor, dropping 25 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 25 minutes. His control in the paint set the tone, pushing Dallas to a 61- 53 halftime lead. Kidd called it his best preseason game yet — and it showed. “I think when you talk about it, this is probably one of his best games,” the head coach told the media during the postgame presser.

“We’ve only played a couple, but I think you can see his conditioning. You can see that he is starting to ramp up more minutes. We’ll ramp up his minutes again on Thursday, but if he’s going to play like he did tonight, that puts us in a good seat to win a lot of games,” Jason Kidd added about AD. “Being able to do it from the inside out, playmake defensively—you can see he was into the game from the beginning. It was a really good game, and we’ve got to build on that.”

Davis has been playing on a limited time on the floor; however, there is considerable progress. He has averaged 21.7 minutes so far in the first three games of the preseason. And as Coach Kidd mentioned, if the performance remains this explosive and consistent, then the minutes could be ramped up on Thursday against the LA Lakers.

Meanwhile, with D’Angelo Russell sidelined, Kidd had to throw in his supersized starting five. The lineup featured Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, and Klay Thompson. Well, this seemed like the perfect sauce for the 52-year-old’s pace-driven system.

Now, coming back to AD, many critics have been doubtful about Nico Harrison handing him a contract extension next summer when he turns 33. But logically speaking, if the quality of the game persists, then the possibilities are endless. He is currently under a three-year, $186 million contract, which runs through the 2027-28 NBA season.

Interestingly enough, Davis’s rookie teammate Cooper Flagg feels that his on-court chemistry with the veteran forward could be better. The 18-year-old Duke prodigy has been nothing but phenomenal this preseason, proving why he was the No. 1 prospect and the No. 1 pick of the year. But he also knows that there is always room for improvement for the team and the teammates.

Cooper Flagg makes an honest confession about Anthony Davis

The Dallas Mavericks dropped a close 120 to 116 battle against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, yet rookie Cooper Flagg left his mark. He posted 11 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals on 4 of 8 shooting in 24 minutes. While the starters struggled to find rhythm, Flagg stayed composed. He continues learning, improving, and embracing the growing pains that come with joining a star-studded roster.

Even with flashes of brilliance, his chemistry with Anthony Davis remains under construction. There were glimpses of potential, especially during the highlight alley-oop from Flagg to Davis. After the game, he said, “I think it’s been huge. I think team-wise, just getting a feel, it’s a different game. Different spacing… I have to find ways to help AD more, play off him a little better, help him impact the game when he’s posting up, getting his isos and whatnot, so I got to find a way to help him a little bit more.”

This awareness sets the tone for Dallas moving forward. With Kyrie Irving out with a torn ACL in his left knee, the weight now shifts to Davis and Flagg. They have to steer the Mavericks with help from D’Angelo Russell, Klay Thompson, and PJ Washington. And Jason Kidd has to shape this mix carefully.

Anthony Davis is setting the Dallas rhythm, one fierce rebound at a time. The veteran is finding his groove, while Cooper Flagg learns to match the tempo beside him. Jason Kidd watches the chemistry simmer, waiting for it to boil. With stars on the mend and promise in motion, the Mavericks are starting to look less like a preseason experiment and more like a statement in progress.