NBA playoffs: Anthony Davis expected to be available for Lakers-Warriors Game 6 after head injury, per report
Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis exited the team's Game 5 loss to the Golden State Warriors after taking an elbow to the head in the fourth quarter. He is expected to play in Game 6, "barring a setback," Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported Thursday.
Davis was elbowed in the temple by Warriors center Kevon Looney midway through the fourth quarter and left for the sideline. After sitting on the bench with his head in hands in apparent pain, he walked to the tunnel with assistance with the Warriors leading 102-90. He appeared to stumble as he left the court.
AD has been escorted away by a wheelchair for further evaluation, per @ChrisBHaynespic.twitter.com/vjCfhXBTlM
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) May 11, 2023
Davis was ruled out shortly after he was reportedly escorted to the locker room in a wheelchair for further evaluation. Early evaluation reportedly found Davis avoided a concussion.
After the game, head coach Darvin Ham said Davis' condition had improved.
Ham on Davis: “just checked on him in the back, he seems to be doing really good already.”
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) May 11, 2023
Davis put up 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists before his exit. The 30-year-old has played an integral role in the Lakers' postseason success. He led the team with a monster Game 3 showing on both ends of the floor, with 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting with 13 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 assists and 3 steals. Before that, he stepped up defensively during the Lakers' first round series with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Lakers are no stranger to playing without the big man, who returned to the team in January after missing 20 games due to a foot injury. Still, the defending NBA champion Warriors are playing with a competitive urgency the Lakers would likely prefer not to face without Davis.
The series continues Friday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles with the Lakers leading 3-2.