The Dallas Mavericks were riding some momentum, fresh off a strong win over the Nets. Anthony Davis set the tone with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Cooper Flagg chipped in 22 points, five boards, and eight assists. Now, they look to keep things rolling against a struggling Utah Jazz team on Monday. That plan, however, comes with an unexpected setback.

Davis is back on the injury report and has been ruled out in Utah due to a left calf contusion. After carrying the load just days ago, he will watch from the sidelines today, leaving the Mavericks to adjust their frontcourt rotation.

He was first listed as questionable, and fans were understandably worried. It’s the same calf issue that sidelined him for 14 straight games back in late October.

Fans have grown frustrated with Davis, pointing to his weaker performances compared to former ‘franchise star’ Luka Doncic and even suggesting the Mavericks should consider trading him when he struggles.

Good news for Davis: the 32-year-old star has just one guaranteed year left for 2026-27, followed by a player option for 2027-28, giving him plenty of leverage if he wants a move in the offseason.

What happened to Anthony Davis?

Late in Friday’s close win over the Brooklyn Nets, there was a scary-looking moment for Anthony Davis. With just over two minutes left in the fourth, Max Christie’s right leg accidentally slammed into Davis’ left calf while he was helping defend Michael Porter Jr.

The collision left him hobbling in visible pain, but he quickly shook it off, stayed in the game, and even fiercely contested Porter Jr.’s shot at the rim.

Most Mavericks fans barely noticed, caught up in the excitement of the tight victory, and neither Davis nor coach Jason Kidd was asked about it afterward.

It now seems that the bump may have aggravated his calf issue, adding to concerns ahead of the matchup against the Jazz. Davis would have subbed himself out on Friday if the pain had been too much, and getting bumped like that isn’t the same as a full strain.

Still, the player attended a shoot-around on Monday, suggesting this isn’t as serious as his previous calf setback, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

What is Anthony Davis’ injury status and expected return date?

Anthony Davis will miss his 16th game of the season, having appeared in just 11 of the Mavericks’ 26 contests so far, according to Marc Stein on X.

Kidd stressed that the decision is being handled day-to-day rather than on any set timetable.

“We’ll see,” Kidd said. “Hopefully, he feels better tomorrow, and we’ll see how it goes during the week. That’s it. We’ll see how he feels.”

The Mavericks are taking a cautious approach, similar to how they’ve managed Daniel Gafford’s return from a recurring ankle sprain.

When Davis is on the floor, he’s a clear stabilizing presence. In 11 games this season, he’s averaged 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, anchoring the interior and providing reliable scoring during a period of constant lineup changes. The Mavs are 6-5 with him in the lineup, but 4-11 when he’s sidelined.

While fans might worry, this appears more precautionary than reactionary.

How will the Mavericks line up without Anthony Davis?

With Davis out, the door opens for Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall to see more minutes. Dwight Powell and Moussa Cisse could also take on bigger roles.

The starting lineup features Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, and Ryan Nembhard.