Anthony Davis exits early as Mavericks face another round of injury drama

Here we go again.

Anthony Davis barely made it through the first quarter Wednesday before limping off with lower left leg soreness, another tough twist for a Mavericks team that can’t seem to catch a break up front.

The big man grimaced after landing awkwardly on a layup against the Pacers, then headed straight to the locker room after a timeout, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

He was listed as probable before the game with bilateral Achilles tendinopathy, so there was already reason for concern.

“He tried to return,” head coach Jason Kidd said afterward, via Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “Didn’t want to take any chances. We’ll see how he feels going forward.”

The Mavericks were able to hold on for a 107-105 home win.

Davis has been here before — too many times. He played 76 games last season, but that’s the only time he’s topped 60 since 2020.

Since being traded from the Lakers to Dallas in the Luka Doncic blockbuster, he’s appeared in just nine games, including a debut that ended in an adductor strain and an 18-game absence.

He entered camp healthy this time around, aside from the retina surgery that now forces him to wear goggles full-time. But now it’s back to wait-and-see mode.

The Mavericks were already down big men Dereck Lively II (knee sprain) and Daniel Gafford (ankle).