LeBron James and Anthony Davis shared injury updates post the Lakers’ victory over the Suns.
Both LeBron James and Anthony Davis successfully navigated the Los Angeles Lakers’ 122-119 win against the Phoenix Suns, although not without a few concerns along the way.
Davis made his return to the lineup after sitting out due to left adductor/hip spasms following an early departure in the game against the Miami Heat. Despite his positive outlook on potentially playing against the Houston Rockets, AD was unexpectedly sidelined. The Lakers faced a significant setback in his absence and suffered a considerable loss.
Initially labeled as questionable for the In-Season Tournament match at the Footprint Center, a game crucial for the Lakers desperate to break a three-game losing streak and an 0-6 road record, Davis’ status was later upgraded to probable. He ultimately received the green light during warm-ups.
However, Davis’s initial presence didn’t instantly revitalize the struggling Lakers. He seemed tentative, especially in rebounding and defensive efforts, tallying five points on a 2-for-9 shooting record by halftime. Jusuf Nurkic appeared to outwork him, and the Lakers continued to face challenges on the boards.
“Took some time to kind of get into the game, the shots and stuff, just trying not to aggravate it,” Davis said postgame.
Later on, Davis regained his rhythm, exhibiting a more assertive performance. He powered through to achieve 10 points in the third quarter, contributing significantly as the Lakers kept pace. Notably, a dominant 16-2 surge at the start of the fourth quarter occurred while Davis was on the sidelines, resting. This period saw Jusuf Nurkic’s impact diminish significantly in the latter half of the game. The Lakers managed to narrow the rebounding deficit.
Despite a 5-for-14 shooting performance, Davis notably improved, culminating in a total of 18 points and 11 rebounds throughout his 36 minutes on the court.
“As the game kind of got going, stopped thinking about it, just started playing. Felt it a couple of times throughout the game, but for the most part, felt good.”
LeBron James’ performance in this game was nothing short of remarkable. If you happened to tune in during the second quarter without prior context, you wouldn’t have guessed you were watching a seasoned professional athlete, let alone one battling through discomfort.
In an incident during the first quarter, LeBron collided with Kevin Durant while penetrating the lane. The 38-year-old swiftly hopped on one leg and, despite evident discomfort, proceeded to take a free throw, visibly displaying concern and discomfort while being tended to on the bench. Nevertheless, he resolutely returned to action at the beginning of the second quarter.
“It never loosened up,” LeBron said about the leg issue, which he didn’t officially diagnose. “But I was driving, and, awkwardly, KD’s knee — at the force that I was going — went right into my shin. It locked up then and there. Shot down to my foot.”
However, LeBron defied any signs of physical hindrance. Displaying his usual agility and prowess, he orchestrated his way to an impressive stat line of 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. This outing marked his most efficient shooting performance of the 2023-24 season: shooting 11-for-17 from the field, 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, and 7-for-11 from the free-throw line. Notably, he remained on the court for the entire fourth quarter, accumulating a total of 36 minutes without displaying any evident fatigue.
Davis appears to have made a complete return and is expected to take the court on Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena. LeBron, on the other hand, mentioned feeling “pretty sore” after tending to his leg with ice. Nevertheless, the victory likely provides a boost to his recovery process.