LeBron James sends message to Anthony Davis after game-winner in Mavericks-Hawks

James gave props to his former teammate after the Mavericks took down the Atlanta Hawks.

Oct 4, 2024; Palm Desert, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3), forward LeBron James (23) and forward Jarred Vanderbilt (2) on the sidelines against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half at Acrisure Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Dallas Mavericks star forward Anthony Davis would not be denied on Wednesday night. Despite suffering an injury to his right eye in the first quarter, Davis returned later in the game and put forth his best performance since being traded to the Mavericks in February.

Davis connected on the game-winning floater with 3.4 seconds remaining and contested Trae Young's three-pointer as the clock expired to secure the victory. It was a big one for the Mavericks with the team hanging onto the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference. Dallas is getting close to clinching a berth in the postseason by locking in a play-in spot.

Over 30 minutes of action, Davis led all scorers with 34 points on 14/23 shooting while adding 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, and a steal. The outing was the first time since the trade that the perennial all-star has eclipsed the 30+ point mark. Plus, it was the fifth game-winner of his professional career.

READ MORE: Mavericks' Anthony Davis breaks down game-winner over Hawks

Apr 2, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) celebrates with Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1) after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Following the victory, longtime former teammate and friend, LeBron James, gave a shout-out to Davis.

"GAME BLOUSES!!" James wrote on Instagram while referring to Davis's clutch shot.

Instagram

Despite Davis being moved from Los Angeles to Dallas, he built a close relationship with James during his five-plus seasons with the Lakers. Davis and James delivered a championship to LA in 2020 and were selected to the NBA All-Star game three separate times as teammates.

Apr 2, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) reacts after scoring against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Depending on how it shakes out, Davis and James could face off in the postseason. If the Mavericks make it through the play-in, they would take over the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The Lakers are currently tied for the No. 3 seed but if they drop to No. 4 there's a path for the franchises to meet up in the conference semifinals.

It's an unlikely path but a possibility still the same.

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