Overview
- An MRI showed a low-grade left calf strain suffered in the first quarter vs. the Pacers, sidelining Davis for games in Mexico City against the Pistons and at Houston before a re-evaluation ahead of Nov. 5.
- Team caution reflects his bilateral Achilles tendinopathy, with medical specialists noting Grade I calf strains often heal in one to two weeks and warrant extra care to reduce Achilles risk.
- Dallas fell to 2-4 after losing to Detroit without Davis, increasing short-term responsibility for rookie Cooper Flagg alongside veterans P.J. Washington and Klay Thompson.
- The frontcourt remains thin with Daniel Gafford (ankle) yet to debut and Dereck Lively II (knee) out, while Jason Kidd offered no firm timeline on Kyrie Irving’s ACL return beyond hoping it comes before year’s end.
- Context around availability intensifies scrutiny of the Luka Dončić-for-Davis trade as commentators, including Richard Jefferson, question Davis’ conditioning following a heavier training camp and last season’s limited games and retina surgery.