Anthony Davis. Image via: LM Otero/ AP Anthony Davis’ tenure with the Dallas Mavericks has been filled with ups and downs, but his latest performance against the Atlanta Hawks showed exactly why the franchise acquired him. Despite suffering an apparent injury early in the game, Davis proved his athletic abilities and delivered when it mattered most, leading the Mavericks to a thrilling 120-118 victory at home.
Anthony Davis delivered a stunning game-winner for the Dallas Maverick
It hasn’t been long since Davis returned from an adductor strain, and fans have been eagerly waiting for him to regain peak form. However, another scare struck during the first quarter against Atlanta when Davis took an inadvertent elbow from teammate Daniel Gafford while attempting to tip in a missed shot at the buzzer. Trainers quickly attended to him as he clutched his right eye, which was soon covered with a towel. Though he initially remained on the bench, Davis ultimately headed to the locker room for further evaluation.Davis returned to the court late in the second quarter, sporting a large bandage over his eye. He immediately continued his A-game and led the Mavericks’ offense with 15 points before halftime. Davis’ tenure with the Mavericks has been inconsistent, with three of his five games seeing him score 15 points or fewer. But against the Hawks, he looked every bit like the dominant player Dallas Morning News’ Mike Curtis summed it up perfectly:”That was Anthony Davis’ best game as a Mav, and that’s saying something considering his dominant debut. Overcame an early exit from the game. Multiple clutch stops down the stretch. Game-winning floater.”As the game neared its climax, Davis took over in the final moments. The score was tied and the Mavericks needed a go-to scorer. AD was ready.The Mavericks placed their trust in Davis, and he delivered with a difficult game-winning floater. The Hawks had one last chance to respond, but Trae Young’s contested step-back three fell short.In just under 30 minutes of action, the star forward dropped 34 points while shooting an efficient 60.9% from the field (23 attempts). Davis controlled the glass with a game-high 15 rebounds, including two on the offensive end. Additionally, he knocked down 50% of his three-point attempts and converted all four of his free throws. Defensively, he registered five blocks while challenging shots and disrupting plays. Additionally, he contributed two assists and a steal.With that, the Mavericks secured a hard-fought victory.Also Read: Anthony Davis’ comeback sparks response from Dallas Mavericks teammates amid strugglesIt appears that Davis is all ready to contribute his part for the team amid the Mavericks’ continuous struggle and back-to-back criticism since the organization traded their star player, Luka Doncic, to acquire Davis.