Anthony Davis traveled with the Los Angeles Lakers on their upcoming road trip after suffering a bruised tailbone injury, but he won’t be active for Friday’s game against Dallas (9:45 ET, ESPN).
The MRI exam conducted on Davis revealed no major issues, and his X-rays came back negative. Although he was in significant discomfort, his injuries seem to be limited to bruises.
In the third quarter of the Lakers’ sixth consecutive victory, 117-87 over the Knicks on Tuesday night, Davis sustained an injury. This occurred when he attempted to block a shot from New York’s Julius Randle and subsequently fell heavily on his back and tailbone.
Davis writhed in pain on the court, remaining stationary for approximately two minutes as his teammates surrounded him. Ultimately, he managed to stand with some assistance and slowly walked off the court, albeit under his own strength.
Following the game, the Lakers’ Danny Green described it as an “ugly fall, man. Given the length of time it took for him to rise and leave, and the manner in which he did so, it’s likely going to require some time for recovery.”
However, the news may not be as bad as the Lakers had feared.
Initially, the team diagnosed the injury as a bruised sacrum, which is the lower part of the spine. However, after an MRI, the Lakers revised their diagnosis to a soft-tissue bruise, suggesting the injury is probably less severe.
The Lakers play Oklahoma City on Saturday (8 ET, League Pass) before returning to Los Angeles.
This summer, Davis will become an unrestricted free agent, although it is largely anticipated that he will renew his contract with the Lakers. After being traded from New Orleans in exchange for much of the Lakers’ younger team, he has averaged 27.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in his inaugural season with Los Angeles.
“Lakers coach Frank Vogel referred to him as one of their pillars, stating, “He’s our present. He’s our future. He is among the world’s best players, so he obviously holds great significance for us.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
