Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis is expected to play in Game 6 of the team’s Western Conference Semifinal series against the Golden State Warriors. Davis suffered a head injury and had to be taken to the locker room in a wheelchair after Warriors center Kevon Looney seemed to accidentally strike him during play.
“Obviously, everyone saw he took a shot to the head, but we just checked in on him, he seems to be doing really good already,” coach Darvin Ham said after the game. “That’s just where he’s at. That’s the status of it right now.”
Davis still remains questionable for the game Friday, but the injury does not seem as serious as it did immediately after the incident. Though Looney’s contact with Davis’ head did not appear intentional or severe, but concern among team personnel seemed to rise when the Lakers big man appeared shaken on the sidelines. Staff brought out a wheelchair to escort him back, but he later walked out of the arena and reportedly has avoided a concussion.
“Obviously, AD is huge to what we do. I believe he’ll play, but if that’s not the case, we’re still a group of NBA basketball players that have played games without him this year,” teammate Austin Reaves said. “You never want to play a big game without a guy like that. But that’s the nature of the game.”
Davis has been a difference-maker for Los Angeles in the playoffs thus far, as the star led the team past the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. Though he has been inconsistent, his better performances have been integral to the Lakers’ progression in the postseason.
With a 3-2 lead over the Warriors in the series, Davis may not have to be at full strength in order to lift his team to the next round. That being said, his setback does open the door further for Golden State, who won Game 5 Wednesday night 121-106 to avoid elimination. A complete 3-1 comeback would mirror LeBron James’ similar comeback in the 2016 Finals when the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Warriors.
