Anthony Davis, exited wednesday’s Game 5 between Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter with about 7:43 minutes remaining in the game, Davis was unintentionally elbowed in the head (temple part of the head) by the Warriors Kevon Looney. Just after nine seconds, Anthony Davis left the game as he appeared wobbly as he walked off the court and stumbled to the laker bench, after that he returned to the locker room in a wheelchair. He later walked out of the Chase Center under his own power. He was the last Laker to leave the locker room, heading to the bus with slow and deliberate steps.
As soon Davis left the game, so did the hopes of Lakers, As the Warriors defeat the Lakers in Game 5 by 121-106 and to stay alive in the series and force a Game 6 at Crypto.com Arena, LA on Friday night. Lakers still leading the best-of-seven series by 3-2 if they don’t win Game 6, they have to return at the same venue for a Game 7 against the defending champions, though they don’t want to pursue that thread. as they want to put all their efforts in winning the Game 7
Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham gave an update on Davis as he entered the postgame news conference. He checked in on Davis after the game and said,
“He took a shot to the head, I just checked in on him. He seems to be doing really good already. That’s where he’s at and the status of it right now.”, Ham said.
TNT’s Chris Haynes reported Thursday that Davis is expected to be ready to play for Game 6 on Friday night (10 ET, ESPN). Also, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Davis was able to leave the arena after the game without any assistance.
Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis (head injury) is expected to be available for Game 6 on Friday barring a setback, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 11, 2023
After the game, TNT’s Chris Haynes revealed that Davis is being monitored for a possible concussion but by early diagnosis it appears that Anthony Davis has avoided a concussion.
It appears that Anthony Davis has avoided a concussion, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/MG6d7YROdh
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 11, 2023
Teammate Austin Reaves said he thought Davis would play Friday, As Davis doing “better” is an encouraging sign,
“Obviously A.D. is huge to what we do, I believe he’ll play. If that’s not the case, we’re still a group of NBA basketball players that have played games without him this year.” he said. “You never want to play a big game without a guy like that. But that’s the nature of the game.”
Austin Reaves who strife to 15 points added that, “Like I said, you never want to play a game, a big game, without a guy like that, but that’s the nature of the game. That’s really it. Score more points.”
For the Lakers vs Warriors game, Davis scored 23 points with nine rebounds while playing with four fouls against a driving Warrior attack before being pull-off from the entire match due to injury.