Anthony Davis injury update: Lakers star unlikely to play in Game 5 due to strained left groin, per report

Anthony Davis was dominated out of the rest of Sport 4 of the first-round sequence between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns with a left groin pressure suffered within the second quarter, and his time on the sideline will seemingly prolong for no less than yet another recreation. Davis is taken into account day-to-day with that groin pressure however is unlikely to play in Sport 5, in line with The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Regardless of that being the case, Charania experiences there may be optimism throughout the Lakers’ group that Davis’ standing may enhance because the sequence strikes ahead. 

Davis performed by means of a hyperextended proper knee that he suffered within the second half of Sport 3 towards the Suns. The damage occurred late within the first half. Davis went up for a layup however instantly fell to the bottom clutching his leg. He stayed on the ground at that time, however when he went again to the locker room for halftime, he by no means returned and was in the end dominated out shortly thereafter. 

“He is present process additional medical analysis and we’ll have extra data tomorrow,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the sport. Vogel cited Davis’ knee damage as nicely, praising his large man for attempting to play anyway. “He was saying that his knee was sore, however that there was no approach he was not going to play,” Vogel mentioned. “I believed he gave a heck of a run at it attempting to compete by means of ache.”

Davis had been completely dominant in Video games 2 and three, averaging 34 factors and 10.5 rebounds within the Lakers’ two wins on this sequence. In Sport 4, nevertheless, he had solely six factors on 9 photographs as he handled that hyperextended knee. Davis has fought by means of accidents all season lengthy for the Lakers, showing in solely 36 of a potential 72 video games for them resulting from points together with his calf and Achilles tendon. 

The Lakers can not win a championship with out a wholesome Davis. It is so simple as that. They nonetheless must win two extra video games towards Phoenix simply to flee this first-round sequence, and if Davis is not wholesome sufficient to assist them try this, they’ll must lean much more closely on LeBron James to hold the load on offense. He himself remains to be recovering from a high-ankle sprain, and beginning taking pictures guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was already out with an damage of his personal. Throw in Chris Paul’s shoulder and this sequence has been outlined virtually completely by accidents. It is a unhappy state of affairs for what ought to have been among the best matchups of the postseason.