9:36am: According to the Lakers, Davis’ MRI revealed a gluteus maximus contusion, tweets Medina. He’ll be listed as questionable for Friday’s game, which sounds like a best-case outcome for the team. Even if AD does miss a game or two, the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.
8:46am: Davis’ MRI came back clean and he intends to travel with the team on its upcoming road trip, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. It’s unclear whether or not he’ll actually play on Friday or Saturday, but it’s certainly good news for the Lakers either way.
8:24am: The Lakers got a scare on Tuesday night when star big man Anthony Davis fell awkwardly to the floor during the third quarter of the team’s win over the Knicks. After attempting to block a shot, Davis landed hard on his tailbone, suffering what the team called a sacral contusion (Twitter link). Head coach Frank Vogel referred to the injury after the game as a bruised tailbone (video link via Mark Medina of USA Today).
While X-rays were negative, Davis was scheduled to undergo an MRI late Tuesday night, so we’re still waiting for an official update from the team on the results and a potential recovery timeline. For now, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports that AD is expected to miss the Lakers’ upcoming road trip to Dallas (Friday) and Oklahoma City (Saturday). It remains to be seen whether he’ll be sidelined beyond the weekend.
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link), Davis was escorted out of the arena on Tuesday laying on the bed of a motor carrier and acknowledged he’d miss some time, but seemed confident that the injury wasn’t a significant one. “I’m fine,” he told Haynes.
Davis suffered his injury just hours after word broke that he had declined a contract extension from the Lakers. As we explained in our story on the subject, the decision doesn’t mean the 26-year-old isn’t committed to the franchise — it just makes more financial sense for him to become a free agent this summer, since his maximum salary will be higher at that time.
People around the NBA don’t expect Davis to leave the Lakers, and Vogel suggested in the wake of Tuesday’s injury that the star forward is at the center of the organization’s long-term plans.
“He’s one of our pillars,” Vogel said of Davis, per McMenamin. “He’s our present, he’s our future and he’s one of the best players in the world. So obviously he means a lot.”
With Davis out for at least the Lakers’ next couple games, Kyle Kuzma – who has been the subject of some trade rumors as of late – figures to get an opportunity to step into the starting lineup, a possibility he acknowledged after Tuesday’s win, as McMenamin relays.
“Coach always talks about ‘next man up,'” Kuzma said. “I just feel like if I have an opportunity, I’ll be fine. … I mean, I’m not Anthony Davis, so I’m just going to be myself. And just do me.”
Anthony Davis injured? No way!
Will be a cruel twist of fate should he get a serious critical injury later this season after turning down a max contract.
Maybe LeBron orchestrated this pain in his ass to encourage him to sign for security. #conspiracytheoryipulledfrombetweenthecracks
Kuz, it’s time to step up
Meanwhile, ESPN is running articles, suggesting the Lakers trade him away for total scrubs
Gluteus maximus contusion, what a pain in the rear.
Literal butthurt.
Too much twerking at da club. Got to remember he gots a day job.
He’s been getting a little too close to Dirty Dwight lol
How far lakers goes in the playoffs will be based on if AD can be healthy. Why the lakers are playing him and LeBron so many minutes is a mystery or blunder.
Lebron is playing career low minutes
35 MPG at age 35 is still a lot. It’s only a career low because his 38.5 MPG average is one of the highest in NBA history for a 17-year vet.
And his scoring is also the lowest since his rookie season.
That is because he’s focused on getting his teammates involved. Which is also why he leads the league in assists.
AD will be playing complete games for the next week or so, he is unable to sit on the bench.
He can Larry Bird it and lay on his stomach.
How far they go is based on if their 2 best players are healthy. Amazing analysis.
He fell on the court yet some will make a big deal out of it. Just a few games with a bruise, try again haters.
Davis is not “fine”; he is butt-hurt. He will not be back until his gluteous is at least midimus.
AD, in hindsight it’s too bad you didn’t insure your a$$ like you did with your eyebrow. But quit sagging when you bring up the rear. Hire a derriere doctor and make it smile!
A 7-crapper comment.
lol what