Anthony Davis missed the final six minutes of Sunday’s victory over New Orleans due to back spasms, but he’s confident he’ll be ready to go on Tuesday when the Lakers and Pelicans meet again in the play-in tournament, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“No doubt that I’m going to play,” Davis said after Sunday’s game.
Davis’ injury occurred with 5:52 remaining in the fourth quarter when he was attempting to grab a rebound and was pushed in the back by Pelicans big man Larry Nance Jr. (video link). According to McMenamin, Davis said the contract resulted in hyperextension when he landed and that his back “just locked up.”
“I was in the air,” Davis said. “Obviously it’s a dangerous play. I know he’s not a dirty player.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Suns wing Damion Lee admits that he went through some “dark days” during the lengthy recovery process from an October meniscus surgery that sidelined him for the entire regular season, as Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays. However, Lee is in a better place now as he nears the end of that recovery process — he also hasn’t given up on the idea of returning this spring. “To be determined,” Lee said. “I’ll just leave it at this. I feel like the longer we go in the postseason, the more likely there is a chance. No timetable necessarily. It’s all feel based. You saw me out here shooting, jumping. Running.”
- Grayson Allen gave up a little money to sign an extension with the Suns, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), who says the veteran swingman could have secured $80-85MM on the open market. Allen has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $70MM deal with Phoenix.
- The Clippers continue to be evasive about Kawhi Leonard‘s outlook for the start of the playoffs, writes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. Asked on Sunday whether Leonard has been doing workouts, head coach Tyronn Lue said he’s “been doing a little something,” but Lue declined to say whether or not he expects the star forward to be available in the postseason.
- It won’t be an easy path to the playoffs for the Kings or Warriors, who will each have to win two play-in games just to claim the No. 8 seed in the West. Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee takes a look at the challenge facing the Kings, while Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic checks in on a Golden State team in “March Madness mode.”
When the Warriors beat the Kings tomorrow night, they’ll have to play the Pelicans, who they just lost to last week in an important game !!
That doesn’t look good to most. But I’m confident because the Warriors will be the older brother, the teacher versus student, the Wiley veteran versus the up-and-coming protege.
Basketball is a lot of mental battles and I think the Warriors have the upper hand when they meet again.
But this is assuming you don’t get last year’s Klay. Two for 15 then 2 for 13 won’t cut it. I believe if they get standard Klay, they’ll be fine and move on.
What a pompous, arrogant, and totally predictable statement from a Warriors fan…. Light the beam!!
What exactly are you expecting, Jimmy? “We can’t win, everything sucks, please take our spot in the play-in?”
I will admit “when” is a bad choice of adverb.
Let’s talk Saturday morning okay? We’ll see how this plays out. I’m all for, may the best team win. That’s good basketball. But in the meantime I’m pumped up about the warriors.
Strong words jimmy. I’m just having a little fun and assuming the win. I can see how that’s very offensive to you, but I’m not surprised as a Kings fan. You’ve been bullied by your big brother for 70 years.
Think he’s a Laker fan Gary, a rare breed in here ….be kind !
Cap if the Warriors lose tomorrow night or Friday night I’ll crawl up into a ball and die. We don’t even have the draft to look forward to this year, something I was accustomed to every single year in the ’80s and ’90s LOL
Its going to entertaining no doubt, Drays going to try to do everything he can to get into Dom’s head
Might need some sneaky minutes from Payton on Fox to keep his confidence neutralized. Sac a different team if you can keep Fox contained. I think GSW pulls it out with a late run that Sac can not answer
Golden State might be the weakest team in terms of “mentality” in the entire league. They’ve shown that all year…
You better hope Looney is out there to play. He’s the only reason the Warriors had the opportunity to get dog walked by the Lakers last year. If you playoff hopes hinge on the ghost of Klay Thompson, its gonna be a long couple days for you.
Yet in the poll today I see around 70% of people on this website believe the Warriors will move on and the Kings will go home.
I like our chances but yes I’m nervous. It will be a tough couple of days for us, especially considering the things you’ve mentioned here.
Yes and the Ghost of Klay Thompson is no joke. He’s due for a 2-15 night.
Good luck to your Kings, may the best team win. I’ll be glued to the TV watching every second.
Maybe, if our GM had done his Job at the Trade Deadline, we wouldn’t have to play two extra games just to get into the playoffs.
Agree MM should have done something, really anything, but to his credit he didn’t expect to lose a starter and the sixth man of the year. At least Keon showed he can be a contributer
They blew too many 15pt leads recently.
Draymond better be locked in. He’s going to get chirped at all night by everyone in that building. Orlando took him out in 4 minutes. I bet Sac can get close to that time
We’ve seen you can’t count on him. He’ll leave you hanging at the worst times. Oh well let’s see how it plays out.