Anthony Davis Shines in Mavericks’ Narrow Win Over Hawks

DALLAS, Texas — Anthony Davis demonstrated his elite basketball skills Wednesday night, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a thrilling 120-118 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center. With just 3.4 seconds remaining, Davis sank a driving floater, capping off a dominant performance that included 34 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocked shots.

Guard Spencer Dinwiddie expressed confidence that such standout performances from Davis will become a norm for the Mavericks. “We expect those types of performances out of him,” Dinwiddie said. “He makes the game incredibly easy — being able to catch lobs, play out of the pocket and especially shoot the three.”

Despite battling an eye injury that caused him to miss part of the second quarter, Davis’s presence was felt throughout the game. His ability to effectively guard all five positions on the court and intimidate opponents was crucial in defeating the Hawks. Davis joined teammate Daniel Gafford as the only players in Mavericks history to achieve at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in a single game.

The Mavericks now stand at 38-39 on the season and are contending for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament. Underlining their playoff aspirations, Davis acknowledged, “Until we’re able to get everybody off of minute restrictions — I’m not sure when that’s going to be. But we’ve got to give it all we got in the time that we’re allotted to be on the floor.”

Dallas overcame an 11-point deficit in the third quarter thanks in large part to the offensive contributions from their bench and Klay Thompson’s clutch shooting. Thompson tied the score at 118 with a critical three-pointer with 41.3 seconds left, finishing with 17 points on 5-of-9 three-point shooting.

On the other hand, the Hawks, currently eighth in the Eastern Conference, mounted a competitive effort with Trae Young leading the charge, scoring 20 points and providing 14 rebounds. Their ability to create scoring opportunities was evident, as the Hawks attempted 38 three-pointers, making 14 of them.

As the game stretched into its final moments, it was clear that defensive performance would be pivotal. Dinwiddie highlighted the Mavericks’ trust in Davis while defending Young during the final possession. “We had full faith in him switching out on Trae Young for the final shot, which says a lot for a big guy,” Dinwiddie noted. “That’s huge. We said, ‘Hey, AD got him, and we’ll live with the results.’”

With center Dereck Lively II making his return after missing 36 games, the Mavericks are increasingly nearing full strength. Lively, alongside Davis, allowed for a taller, more formidable front line. Head coach Jason Kidd remarked positively about Lively’s return, saying he “did a great job in his limited time.”

As the Mavericks pursue more wins to solidify their playoff positioning, their performance against the Hawks underscores the potential impact of being at full strength. “We can’t play what if,” Davis said about the absence of guard Kyrie Irving due to injury. “We focus on who we have in the locker room and just try to stay together and make some noise.”

Looking ahead, the Mavericks will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, while the Hawks will host the New York Knicks on Saturday.