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Lakers' Anthony Davis Will '100%' Play in Game 5 After Suffering Back Injury
August 25, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis says he will "100 percent" be ready for Game 5 on Wednesday after dealing with back spasms during Monday night's Game 4 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Davis noted his back loosened up enough where he could have re-entered the game if necessary. However, with the Lakers holding a 38-point lead just minutes into the second half, he was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
Davis, who recorded 18 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 18 minutes of action before exiting, made it clear after the game his back is "fine."
The forward has dealt with a variety of ailments since play began at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida. An eye injury limited him during the exhibition games, while an ankle issue caused problems during the seeding games.
Even when he was on the court, inconsistency was a problem, with quiet games following dominant showings.
Any additional missed time could be damaging for a Lakers squad trying to contend for an NBA title. Even with LeBron James on the roster and depth in the post that includes Dwight Howard and Kyle Kuzma, playing without Davis represents a significant setback.
The 27-year-old is one of the most dominant players in the NBA when healthy, averaging 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in his first season with the team.
He was not only the leading scorer on the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, but he's also a finalist for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert.
The Lakers likely need the two-way star at 100 percent in order to bring home a championship.