Overview

• Anthony Davis, acquired in a blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, is out indefinitely with a left adductor strain, with no clear timetable for his return.
• Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 MCL sprain and will miss at least six weeks, further depleting the team's frontcourt depth.
• Other key big men, including Dereck Lively II (ankle stress fracture) and Dwight Powell (hip strain), remain sidelined, leaving the Mavericks shorthanded in the paint.
• NBA insiders report optimism that Davis may avoid surgery, but the team is proceeding cautiously with his recovery to avoid further complications.
• The Mavericks currently hold the eighth seed in the Western Conference but face mounting challenges in their push for the playoffs with their roster severely impacted by injuries.