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Oct 24, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) celebrates with Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Suns Catch Break Before Mavericks Game

Originally posted on Phoenix Suns on SI | By Brendan Mau | Last updated Nov 12, 2025 3:49 PM ET

Despite being upgraded to questionable yesterday, Dallas Mavericks star big man Anthony Davis will miss his seventh game in a row tonight against the Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

MacMahon posted on X:

"Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has requested medical data indicating that Anthony Davis is not at risk of aggravating his left calf strain before giving a green light for the 10-time All-Star big man to return. Will miss seventh straight game tonight."

Sources: Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has requested medical data indicating that Anthony Davis is not at risk of aggravating his left calf strain before giving a green light for the 10-time All-Star big man to return. Will miss seventh straight game tonight.
— Tim MacMahon (@BannedMacMahon) November 12, 2025

The Mavericks have really struggled without Davis, going 1-5 in the games he has missed and are having a hard time finding offense.

Dereck Lively II remains questionable for Dallas after missing the past eight games with a right knee sprain.

What Anthony Davis' Absence Means Against Suns

Dallas has practically no offense outside of Davis with Kyrie Irving also out after tearing his ACL last season, especially with poor starts to the year from D'Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson, who was moved to the bench four games ago.

The Mavericks (3-8) rank last in the NBA in points per game as a team (107.2) and team 3-point percentage (29.5%) through the first 11 games.

No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is coming off his best performance of the year with 26 points and nine rebounds in a 116-114 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Monday, but has been thrust into a much bigger role than expected so far.

No Mavericks player outside of Davis averages more than 16 points per game.

Dallas could still be motivated after the team fired general manager and president of basketball operations Nico Harrison yesterday, but the Suns have a great opportunity to capitalize with Davis out as they look for their fourth-straight win.

Every team the Suns have faced so far during their three-game winning streak has been without their star player (two wins over the Los Angeles Clippers without Kawhi Leonard and one over the New Orleans Pelicans without Zion Williamson).

In the past couple years, there had been times when the Suns would struggle against short-handed teams, but Phoenix has been focusing a lot more on itself and playing a tough 48 minutes of basketball no matter the opponent, which has led to the Suns going 5-1 in their last six games even with Jalen Green re-injuring his hamstring and now being out for at least the next four-to-six weeks.

If the Suns can stay hot offensively (shooting 41.5% from 3 over three-game win streak) and continue their relentless ball pressure on defense, it could lead to another double-digit win, as they have done in their last five victories.

Tip-off for tonight's game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MST.