Anthony Davis Listed as Questionable vs. Jazz as Mavericks Try to Stay Afloat in West
The Dallas Mavericks are holding their breath again. Anthony Davis is back on the injury report ahead of Monday night’s matchup against the Utah Jazz, this time listed as questionable with a left calf contusion.
It’s the same calf that sidelined him for 14 games earlier this season-but this isn’t the same injury. That earlier absence was due to a strain.
This time, it’s a contusion. Still, for a team already walking a tightrope in the Western Conference standings, any flare-up in that area is cause for concern.
Davis has suited up for the Mavs’ last six games, giving them a much-needed interior presence on both ends of the floor. In the 11 games he’s played this season, Dallas has gone 6-5-not dominant, but competitive.
And Davis has been solid, averaging 20.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 51.7% from the field. He’s also knocking down 31.8% of his threes, giving the Mavericks a bit more spacing than expected from a traditional big.
But with Dereck Lively II already out for the season due to a foot injury, Dallas simply doesn’t have the frontcourt depth to absorb another extended absence from Davis. The timing couldn’t be more precarious.
The Mavericks currently sit in the No. 10 spot in the West, clinging to the final play-in position. They’ve won six of their last 10 games, but in a crowded Western Conference, there’s no room for slippage.
The Mavericks are listing Anthony Davis as questionable for Monday's game in Utah with a left calf contusion.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 14, 2025
Davis has appeared in Dallas' past six games after missing 14 consecutive games with a left calf strain.
Oddsmakers have the Mavericks as slight 1.5-point road favorites heading into Utah. That might suggest some optimism around Davis’ availability-especially considering Utah’s been feisty at home, posting a 6-7 record at the Delta Center.
But if Davis is ruled out closer to tip-off, don’t be surprised if the line swings in the other direction. With Kyrie Irving already sidelined by a knee injury, Dallas is thin on offensive firepower.
And that’s where Davis becomes even more critical. While his season scoring average sits at 20.0 points per game, that number is a bit misleading.
Two of his 11 appearances dragged that average down significantly. He scored just four points in a game against Indiana where he exited early with the initial calf injury, and more recently, he had just two points in a blowout loss to Oklahoma City on December 5.
Remove those two outliers, and in his other nine games, Davis has scored 24 or more points six times.
That’s the version of Davis the Mavericks need-especially against a Utah defense that’s been leaking points all season. The Jazz rank 29th in both defensive rating and opponent points per game.
Without Walker Kessler protecting the rim, they’ve also struggled inside, ranking 18th in opponent points in the paint. If Davis is able to go, this is a matchup he could exploit.
Bottom line: Dallas can’t afford to lose another key piece right now. With the playoff race tightening and their margin for error shrinking, Davis’ status looms large-not just for Monday night, but for the Mavericks’ season as a whole.