When Davis was drafted No. 1 overall in 2012, he was immediately tasked with replacing Chris Paul, at the time the best player in New Orleans Hornets history. So excited was his new team about his upside that it rushed a rebuild around him that wound up costing him any chance of contending with the organization that drafted him.

If they were going to do so, it would be because of a big game from Mavericks star Anthony Davis. The centerpiece of the viral deal that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, Davis has struggled to stay on the floor since arriving in Dallas.

The short-handed Mavericks came into the game with high hopes, leaning heavily on forward Anthony Davis, who has been the team’s brightest spark since returning from injury. Davis, acquired in the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers,