The Kings’ postseason hopes took a hit tonight after falling to the Mavericks, but it wasn’t just the loss that stung — it was how familiar it felt. One key battle had fans circling this matchup from the jump: Anthony Davis vs. Domantas Sabonis. A heavyweight clash in the paint. Sacramento fans once had bragging rights when Sabonis won 10 straight head-to-heads. But times have changed. Davis has now taken the last five, and his presence continues to cause problems.

In four regular season games against the Kings with the Lakers, Davis piled up 11 blocks — six in one of them. But here’s the catch: most of those swats came as a help defender, not directly guarding Sabonis. In fact, only three of them were against the Kings’ big man. The rest? Mostly on guards charging into the paint like it was wide open. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

That nuance offered a sliver of hope for Sabonis coming into tonight, considering his track record against elite rim protectors. But even with that edge, Sacramento struggled. But he might’ve hurt AD in other ways. Davis walked away from the Mavericks’ win over the Kings with more than just a stat sheet full of blocks — he also picked up four stitches.

Late in the fourth quarter, Davis took a shot to the face from Domantas Sabonis while battling for a rebound. The collision left him with a busted lip that needed medical attention postgame. But instead of pointing fingers, Davis took the blame.

“If we would’ve gotten the rebound, this wouldn’t have happened,” he told reporters, motioning toward the stitches on his upper lip. “I think that actually might’ve been me on the box out. Self-inflicted.” as reported by Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News.

It was a tough moment in a physical game, but one that perfectly captured the tone of the Mavericks’ gritty play-in victory. After making the move from the Lakers to Dallas in February — part of the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade — Anthony Davis made his presence felt. He racked up 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds, reminding everyone why he’s still one of the most dominant bigs around. Davis didn’t just show up — he imposed his will.

And just when you thought the drama had cooled off, the postgame scene added another layer.

Anthony Davis could be sending a signal to the Mavs front office

As soon as the final buzzer sounded on the Mavericks’ 120-106 win in Sacramento, something bigger than basketball happened. In the middle of the chaos — reporters, cameras, and postgame handshakes — Anthony Davis and DeMar DeRozan found each other. No dramatic speeches. Just a hug and a quiet exchange that said everything.

The moment quickly made the rounds online, thanks to the NBA’s Instagram. And honestly, if you’ve followed these two over the years, it hit differently. They’ve been in the league for over a decade, gone head-to-head countless times, and have always had mutual respect. But what really gave the hug weight? The what-could-have-been.

Remember, earlier this year, Dallas stunned the league by shipping Luka to the Lakers. That trade brought Davis to the Mavs and killed off any chance of him linking up with DeRozan in L.A.—something fans had been buzzing about for years. So seeing them on opposite sides of a do-or-die matchup added another twist to the saga.

DeRozan dropped 33, trying to keep the Kings’ season alive. Davis led the charge for Dallas. One moves forward to face Memphis. The other? Left staring down an offseason filled with big decisions.

But that short moment between them? It reminded us the NBA isn’t just about wins and losses — it’s about bonds, history, and respect built over time. And that’s what sticks with you.