For the second straight year, a marquee Dallas name saw a Christmas showcase turn sour, as Davis limped out of the 126-116 defeat to the Warriors. The center pulled up on a second-quarter fast break after forcing a turnover on Stephen Curry, immediately grabbing at his right groin before heading to the bench and then the locker room.

Dallas later ruled him out with right groin spasms after just under 11 minutes on the floor, during which he posted three points, three rebounds, and two blocks. The scene evoked unpleasant memories of Luka Doncic’s calf strain on Christmas a year earlier, which preceded his blockbuster trade to the Lakers for Davis.

Mounting Injury Concerns for Dallas

Davis’s latest setback fits a worrying pattern that has defined his Mavericks tenure as much as his talent. He has already missed at least 16 games this season while managing a left calf issue, on top of last year’s six-week absence with a left adductor strain shortly after arriving from Los Angeles.

The constant stops and starts have made it difficult for Dallas to establish chemistry with Davis as the centerpiece of the Doncic trade. Without him anchoring the paint, the Warriors repeatedly attacked the rim after his exit, while Cooper Flagg and the guards were forced to shoulder a heavier offensive burden to keep the score respectable.

What the Injury Means for the Cooper Flagg Era

The timing of the groin problem complicates an already delicate roster calculus for a franchise increasingly tempted to pivot fully toward rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. Trade chatter around Davis has grown louder in recent weeks as analysts floated scenarios in which Dallas uses his value to restock depth and future assets around its new franchise forward.

With no control of several first-round picks from 2027 to 2030, the front office can hardly afford to miscalculate on its biggest salary slot. If Davis faces another multi-game layoff, pressure will intensify on Dallas to explore the market and secure a healthier long-term core around Flagg rather than waiting for a version of Davis that may never stay on the floor.