CHICAGO \u2014 Max Christie could only watch as Anthony Davis, three seats to his left, doubled over in pain while the Mavericks\u2019 training staff examined his left hand during Thursday\u2019s loss to Utah.<\/p>\n
The next morning, an MRI revealed ligament damage in Davis\u2019 hand, the latest injury that will sideline him indefinitely. The Mavericks big man will seek multiple opinions before determining the best course of action to treat the hand sprain.<\/p>\n
Davis\u2019 injury is the latest \u2014 and potentially most damaging \u2014 blow in a Mavericks season defined by attrition. Already without Kyrie Irving and now facing the loss of two of their three primary big men, Dallas\u2019 depth will be tested and its familiar \u201cnext man up\u201d mentality will attempt to sooth the harsh reality that comes with another unfortunate diagnosis for Davis.<\/p>\n
Davis appeared to be in good spirits Saturday morning at the United Center, where the Mavericks will conclude their three-game road trip against the Bulls in his hometown of Chicago. He wore a black sling to support his heavily wrapped left hand.<\/p>\n
The #Mavs just finished shootaround here in Chicago, hometown of Anthony Davis & Max Christie.<\/p>\n
Davis was here & in good spirits despite the recent news of ligament damage in his left hand. His left arm is in a sling & his hand is heavily wrapped.<\/p>\n
No sign of PJ Washington &\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/dTm1FMmWjp<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) January 10, 2026<\/p>\n
Christie and Mavericks big man Daniel Gafford reacted to yet another serious injury that will deplete the team\u2019s depth.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunate, obviously,\u201d Christie said. \u201cWe want to be able to have him on the floor as much as possible just because of how dominant and how good he is for us, but it\u2019s a \u2018next man up\u2019 mentality. That\u2019s just kind of the way the NBA works with injuries, and we just gotta be able to move past it and continue to try to win games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Winning without Davis will be a tall task, as the Mavericks are 4\u201314 this season when he doesn\u2019t play. They are already without their best ballhandler and shot creator, Irving, who was present for Saturday\u2019s shootaround. Now, they\u2019ll also be without their best rebounder and rim protector, who poses a significant threat on the offensive end.<\/p>\n
Gafford, who was recently reinserted into the starting lineup alongside Davis, will be called upon to shoulder more of the load on both ends of the floor, particularly defensively. With Davis and Dereck Lively II sidelined for the foreseeable future, Gafford is the last of the Mavericks\u2019 trio of big men who is healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough blow for us,\u201d Gafford said. \u201cIt\u2019s just something that happened out of nowhere. Like we always say, \u2018next man up\u2019 mentality. We just gotta come in and pick up where he left off.\u201d<\/p>\n
It will be difficult to replicate the type of production Davis provides when healthy. He is a walking double-double, averaging 20.4 points and 11.1 rebounds in 20 games prior to his injury. However, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd doesn\u2019t view the production as something that needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not looking to replace AD [Anthony Davis]. It\u2019s got to be a group effort \u2013 the next man up and then the next man up. We\u2019ll miss AD while he is out, but we\u2019ve had injuries this season, so this isn\u2019t something new.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mavericks have leaned on their \u201cnext man up\u201d mantra several times dating back to last season. Dallas called up two-way center Moussa Cisse from the G League on Saturday, along with Miles Kelly for additional bodies with Davis, PJ Washington and Brandon Williams all sidelined because of injuries.<\/p>\n
Gafford was asked about the difficulty of maintaining the \u201cnext man up\u201d mindset amid their injury luck.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith us being there for each other, we always try to talk ourselves out of the dark days and try to make every day sunny,\u201d Gafford said. \u201cIt\u2019s a long season. Injuries are going to happen. There\u2019s gonna be a lot of stuff we can\u2019t control. We just have to keep playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davis is expected to miss a significant number of games, possibly the rest of the season if he elects to have surgery. Despite that reality, Davis wore a smile during Saturday\u2019s shootaround.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does a good job of never getting too high and never getting too low,\u201d Christie said. \u201cHe\u2019s always staying even keeled. His presence around us, even when he\u2019s not on the floor, is great. I know my teammates appreciate him being around, providing leadership, and continuing to be that guy for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
X: @MikeACurtis2<\/p>\n
Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.<\/p>\n