Mavericks Face Grizzlies Without Davis in Regular-Season Finale

DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks face a challenging end to their 2024-25 campaign as they prepare for a crucial matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday without their star forward, Anthony Davis. The Mavericks, currently tied for ninth place in the Western Conference with the Sacramento Kings, aim to secure home-court advantage for their upcoming play-in tournament game.

Anthony Davis, a ten-time NBA All-Star, has been ruled out due to a left adductor strain. The Mavericks acquired Davis before the February trade deadline, hoping to bolster their playoff contention. However, the big man will finish his first regular season in Dallas after playing just nine games, where he averaged 20.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks.

The Mavericks’ coaching staff made the decision to rest Davis with critical postseason games on the horizon. “We want to ensure he’s healthy as we head into the play-in tournament,” a franchise spokesperson said. His absence is expected to put additional pressure on the team as they prepare for their matchup with the Grizzlies.

Fans have expressed their disappointment and frustration on social media regarding Davis’s downgraded status. Comments ranged from “Resting for the Play-ins, I’m sure a couple more will be out also” to “Injury management has been a joke all year. Should we expect anything less?”

The Davis-less Mavericks will head to Memphis for the game, set to tip off at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday. The outcome of this finale holds significant implications as both the Mavericks and Kings vie for a favorable position in the play-in tournament, where the stakes are high for playoff aspirations.

Logan Struck is a writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated’s On SI since 2023.