DALLAS -- — Anthony Davis had 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in his Mavericks debut but left the game late in the third quarter with a lower-body injury as Dallas beat the Houston Rockets 116-105 on Saturday.

Max Christie, who was acquired with Davis from the Los Angeles Lakers a week ago in the trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to L.A., added 23 points for the Mavericks after playing twice for Dallas on the road this week.

Davis, who had not played since Jan. 28 because of an abdominal strain, assisted on the Mavericks’ first field goal four seconds in, scored six of Dallas’ first 14 points and had a double-double before halftime. He played 31 minutes.

Davis said he felt tightness in his groin and quadriceps, and part of the reasoning for not returning was him still recovering from the abdominal strain. He said the injury isn't serious.

Alperen Sengun scored 30 points and Jalen Green 24 for Houston, which has a season-long six-game losing streak. Sengun scored 15 in the third quarter, when the Rockets opened on a 21-4 run and cut a 21-point second-quarter deficit to two.

With some Mavericks fans still protesting the controversial trade outside American Airlines Center before tipoff, Davis received huge ovations when he took the court for warmups and was announced in the starting lineup.

Takeaways

Rockets: They held Dallas to 38.9% shooting in the fourth quarter (7 of 18) but only shot 40.9% percent themselves (9 of 22, missing all three 3-pointers).

Mavericks: P.J. Washington sprained his right ankle and sat out the second half, scoring six points in 16 minutes.

Key moment

After the Rockets cut the Mavericks’ lead to 104-100 with 2:43 to play, Kyrie Irving was fouled on a drive and hit both free throws and Christie followed with his team-high fourth 3-pointer for a 109-100 lead with 1:38 left.

Key stat

The Mavericks set a franchise record with 18 blocks (Daniel Gafford six).

Up next

The Rockets will complete a back-to-back Sunday afternoon at home vs. Toronto. The Mavericks will host Sacramento on Monday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Play By Play

Recent plays and game events

TIME	PLAY
12:00	Tari Eason vs. Daniel Gafford (P.J. Washington gains possession)	0	0
11:44	Daniel Gafford makes 1-foot alley oop dunk shot (Anthony Davis assists)	2	0
11:23	Amen Thompson makes 22-foot three point jumper (Tari Eason assists)	2	3
11:09	Klay Thompson misses 24-foot three point jumper	2	3
11:06	Amen Thompson defensive rebound	2	3
10:47	Anthony Davis blocks Alperen Sengun 's 1-foot driving layup	2	3
10:45	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	2	3
10:42	P.J. Washington makes 1-foot dunk (Anthony Davis assists)	4	3
10:28	Amen Thompson misses 23-foot three point jumper	4	3
10:27	Amen Thompson offensive rebound	4	3
10:19	P.J. Washington blocks Tari Eason 's 6-foot step back jumpshot	4	3
10:16	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	4	3
10:08	Klay Thompson makes 7-foot two point shot (Anthony Davis assists)	6	3
9:49	Alperen Sengun makes 18-foot jumper (Jalen Green assists)	6	5
9:40	Klay Thompson makes driving layup (P.J. Washington assists)	8	5
9:25	P.J. Washington blocks Amen Thompson 's 2-foot layup	8	5
9:25	Daniel Gafford defensive rebound	8	5
9:20	Kyrie Irving misses running pullup jump shot	8	5
9:18	Dillon Brooks defensive rebound	8	5
9:10	Jalen Green makes driving layup	8	7
8:51	Anthony Davis makes 6-foot two point shot	10	7
8:27	Alperen Sengun misses layup	10	7
8:26	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	10	7
8:14	Anthony Davis makes 5-foot two point shot	12	7
7:49	Alperen Sengun misses 25-foot three point jumper	12	7
7:46	Daniel Gafford defensive rebound	12	7
7:35	Anthony Davis misses driving layup	12	7
7:34	Anthony Davis offensive rebound	12	7
7:34	Anthony Davis makes dunk	14	7
7:34	Rockets Full timeout	14	7
7:17	Klay Thompson blocks Dillon Brooks 's 11-foot pullup jump shot	14	7
7:15	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	14	7
7:03	Anthony Davis makes 25-foot three pointer	17	7
6:46	Jalen Green makes 25-foot three pointer	17	10
6:37	Klay Thompson misses 18-foot pullup jump shot	17	10
6:33	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	17	10
6:28	Daniel Gafford shooting foul	17	10
6:28	Jalen Green misses free throw 1 of 2	17	10
6:28	Rockets offensive team rebound	17	10
6:28	Dante Exum enters the game for Daniel Gafford	17	10
6:28	Max Christie enters the game for Klay Thompson	17	10
6:28	Cam Whitmore enters the game for Dillon Brooks	17	10
6:28	Jalen Green makes free throw 2 of 2	17	11
6:16	Anthony Davis makes 20-foot pullup jump shot	19	11
5:59	Cam Whitmore makes driving dunk	19	13
5:42	Kyrie Irving misses 18-foot jumper	19	13
5:40	Alperen Sengun defensive rebound	19	13
5:30	Jalen Green out of bounds lost ball turnover	19	13
5:10	Jalen Green shooting foul	19	13
5:10	P.J. Washington makes free throw 1 of 2	20	13
5:10	Spencer Dinwiddie enters the game for Kyrie Irving	20	13
5:10	P.J. Washington makes free throw 2 of 2	21	13
4:58	Amen Thompson makes 1-foot dunk (Alperen Sengun assists)	21	15
4:45	Spencer Dinwiddie offensive foul	21	15
4:45	Spencer Dinwiddie turnover	21	15
4:45	Naji Marshall enters the game for P.J. Washington	21	15
4:37	Jalen Green misses 25-foot three point jumper	21	15
4:34	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	21	15
4:20	Naji Marshall makes driving layup	23	15
4:04	Alperen Sengun misses 4-foot two point shot	23	15
4:02	Alperen Sengun offensive rebound	23	15
4:00	Alperen Sengun misses two point shot	23	15
4:00	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	23	15
3:52	Naji Marshall makes two point shot (Dante Exum assists)	25	15
3:44	Amen Thompson offensive foul	25	15
3:44	Amen Thompson turnover	25	15
3:44	Dillon Brooks enters the game for Tari Eason	25	15
3:44	Steven Adams enters the game for Alperen Sengun	25	15
3:28	Cam Whitmore shooting foul	25	15
3:28	Anthony Davis misses free throw 1 of 2	25	15
3:28	Mavericks offensive team rebound	25	15
3:28	Anthony Davis makes free throw 2 of 2	26	15
3:05	Jalen Green makes 9-foot two point shot	26	17
2:46	Anthony Davis makes 6-foot two point shot	28	17
2:35	Amen Thompson lost ball turnover (Naji Marshall steals)	28	17
2:30	Max Christie makes 22-foot three point shot (Dante Exum assists)	31	17
2:29	Rockets Full timeout	31	17
2:29	Jae'Sean Tate enters the game for Amen Thompson	31	17
2:12	Jae'Sean Tate misses 23-foot three point jumper	31	17
2:10	Mavericks defensive team rebound	31	17
1:47	Dante Exum misses two point shot	31	17
1:46	Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound	31	17
1:35	Dillon Brooks makes 28-foot three point jumper (Jae'Sean Tate assists)	31	20
1:10	Anthony Davis misses 20-foot pullup jump shot	31	20
1:09	Cam Whitmore defensive rebound	31	20
1:01	Cam Whitmore misses driving floating jump shot	31	20
59.0	Steven Adams offensive rebound	31	20
59.0	Steven Adams misses tip shot	31	20
58.1	Anthony Davis defensive rebound	31	20
53.2	Naji Marshall misses running pullup jump shot	31	20
52.1	Steven Adams defensive rebound	31	20
44.1	Steven Adams misses 11-foot two point shot	31	20
41.1	Naji Marshall defensive rebound	31	20
36.1	Dillon Brooks shooting foul	31	20
36.1	Max Christie makes free throw 1 of 2	32	20
36.1	Daniel Gafford enters the game for Anthony Davis	32	20
36.1	Kyrie Irving enters the game for Spencer Dinwiddie	32	20
36.1	Max Christie makes free throw 2 of 2	33	20
18.1	Dillon Brooks misses 18-foot step back jumpshot	33	20
15.1	Dante Exum defensive rebound	33	20
0.1	Kyrie Irving misses 13-foot step back jumpshot	33	20
0.1	Mavericks offensive team rebound	33	20
0.0	End of the 1st Quarter	33	20

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Game Information

Time, Location & Referees

Venue

American Airlines Center

Dallas, TX

Date & Time

8:00 PM, February 8, 2025

Coverage

NBA League Pass, KFAA-TV, Space City Home Network

Attendance

20,303

Referees

Brian Forte, Phenizee Ransom, Jenna Schroeder

2025-26 Southwest Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT	STRK
San Antonio	43	16	.729	W11
Houston	37	22	.627	L1
Memphis	22	36	.379	W1
Dallas	21	38	.356	L2
New Orleans	19	42	.311	W4

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Anthony Davis leads Mavericks past Rockets 116-105 in Mavs debut but leaves with lower-body injury

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