Anthony Davis Injury Update
According to multiple reports, Anthony Davis is likely to miss two weeks due to an ankle sprain. This is the second time in as many games that Davis has missed since the injury occurred in mid-February. Davis reportedly felt some discomfort in the first quarter and received treatment on the sidelines. While he pledged to play through the discomfort, the injury could complicate his rehabilitation and the rest of his season. LeBron James is expected to miss Tuesday’s game against the Utah Jazz, and the two players will play together in Sunday’s road finale in Denver.
LeBron James is expected to miss game against Utah Jazz
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be without LeBron James and Anthony Davis against the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Both players are reportedly battling ankle sprains. According to TNT sideline reporter Chris Haynes, Davis is expected to miss at least three days. He also reports that center Kendrick Nunn is likely done for the season. The team’s head coach Frank Vogel calls the news a “big blow” to its psyche.
The Lakers are hoping that both James and Davis will be able to play, as they are in the final stretch of the regular season. Davis’ return could be critical for the Lakers, as they are trying to avoid a play-in game against the Pelicans. But a healthy LeBron and Davis would be an added boost. The Lakers have started 37 different lineups already.
The Los Angeles Lakers are expecting LeBron James to start Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans after the latter was cleared to play. The injured Anthony Davis was sidelined since Feb. 14 with an ankle sprain. Despite the absence of LeBron James, the Lakers were able to win the previous three games – against the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz – without their superstar.
Besides Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers’ other star, LeBron James, will also miss Thursday’s game against the Utah Jazz. With Davis out, the Lakers have fallen to 10th in the Western Conference and are half a game back of the San Antonio Spurs. They are not expected to win against the Jazz this week and should focus on catching up on their remaining games.
Injuries have plagued the Lakers this season. However, the Lakers are desperate for stability after losing LeBron James. Even though LeBron James is out, Davis will most likely play the remaining seven games of the regular season. Even if he’s sidelined for the rest of the season, Davis’ play will likely help the Lakers’ chances.
Anthony Davis is expected to miss two weeks with ankle sprain
It is not clear when he will be able to return from the injury. But if his ankle sprain is severe, he will be out at least two weeks. The Lakers are scheduled to evaluate him again in four weeks. Meanwhile, the rest of the team will be without their star forward. Here are some possible scenarios. But first, let’s take a look at what caused Davis’ ankle injury.
The X-rays on Anthony Davis’ ankle on Wednesday were negative, but a follow-up MRI showed that the player suffered a mid-foot sprain. He will be out for at least two weeks, and the Lakers will not practice again until Feb. 25. The injury was caused during a game against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 23. Davis appeared to roll his right ankle badly as he landed on Rudy Gobert’s foot. He was unable to put any weight on the foot and was carried off the court by his teammates.
The NBA said it is working with Davis’ injury as soon as possible. The Jazz haven’t released a timetable for his return, but Davis will be evaluated again after the All-Star break to determine whether he will miss any time. It is not clear whether Davis will miss the rest of the season, or will need surgery. If he’s unable to return before the All-Star break, he may miss a few games in the interim.
It’s unlikely that Davis will miss the rest of the season. The Lakers are scheduled to play their next game after the All-Star break, against the Clippers. The Lakers desperately need AD to return to the lineup. They sit ninth in the West, one game behind the Clippers and Denver, and are one game out of the playoffs. So, without AD, their chances of making the playoffs remain slim.
LeBron James has played in just 21 games with Davis this season
The Lakers have struggled mightily without a star player this season. LeBron James has missed more than 20 games, while Davis has only played in 21. While they both appeared to be in the prime of their career entering the season, both players have had their moments. LeBron James has remained upbeat and has expressed confidence that he can help turn the Lakers’ season around.
Despite the injury, Davis has already missed 16 consecutive games and is rehabbing another lower body injury. While Davis is a full participant in practice Monday, it is unclear when he’ll be able to play in his first game since he suffered his mid-foot sprain in February. In addition to Davis, LeBron James is also ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Mavericks.
The Lakers’ playoff hopes are in jeopardy without Davis. The Lakers are just 11-10 when James and Davis play together, so their absence is critical. Despite their absence from the court, Davis and James have been the most productive two-man duo in the 2019-20 season, playing together in the last 21 games. They outscored their opponents by 7.9 points per 100 possessions in their 59 games together.
While the Lakers had high hopes for Anthony Davis, the fact is that he has failed to live up to them. The two-way connection between the star and his point guard is still questionable. However, it would appear that the Lakers will win another championship with Davis, despite the lack of consistency. It would be foolish to look back and not try to rebuild the trade.
LeBron James has been playing an excellent season, averaging 30.3 points per game as he ages. His injury-plagued rookie season ended with a 37-45 record and the Lakers’ emergence as a championship contender was derailed by injuries. LeBron James and Anthony Davis missed the playoffs for the fourth time since 2003, and they were forced to settle for the Western Conference play-in.
Anthony Davis’ return to the court will determine the rest of the Lakers’ season
The Los Angeles Lakers have no clear timetable on when Anthony Davis will return from his foot injury. The forward has been out since Feb. 16 after suffering a sprained right foot. While there are some rumors that Davis might return sooner than expected, there are no hard and fast rules for Davis’ return. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that he is making good progress and could return to the court as early as the first week of April.
Injuries are the number one cause of missed seasons for NBA players, and for Anthony Davis, this is particularly true this season. He missed nearly half the season last season with a strained groin, and suffered another groin strain this past February. The injury came just as Davis was hitting his most lethal groove. The incident occurred nine days after Vogel’s praise for Davis.
Davis’ return is important because he will determine whether the Lakers make the Play-In Tournament. Since he sprained his MCL last season, the team has struggled without him. The Lakers are already a half game ahead of the struggling New Orleans Pelicans, but without him, the Lakers’ season may not go as planned. This injury will likely keep him out for the rest of the season.
In the meantime, the Lakers must find a way to replace Davis. The team is already struggling to find a reliable rotation and consistency. Despite Davis’ return, the Lakers still have a very busy first week of April. Four of the final five games will be played between Sunday, April 3, and Friday, April 8.
Without Davis, the Lakers will not be able to compete for a title this year. LeBron James has been a superstar for two decades, but there comes a time when his stardom will wear thin. While Davis can help the Lakers win games, they cannot afford to lose one of the most valuable superstars in NBA history. That is why it is so crucial for the team to get the best out of Anthony Davis and a healthy Westbrook.