The Los Angeles Lakers received good news and bad news before Sunday's Game 4 vs the Phoenix Suns. Anthony Davis was cleared to play, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was ruled out for the game as he deals with a left knee contusion that he suffered during Game 3.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (knee contusion) has been downgraded to out for today’s Game 4.
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) May 30, 2021
KCP has been a huge part of the Lakers' success over the past couple of seasons and his defense will be greatly missed. So, Davis is in, but the Lakers will be without another starter for Game 4 as the injuries continue to hit this team hard.
While KCP's numbers don't exactly jump off the page, his defense is his calling card and his ability to knock down shots is another huge part of his game that the Lakers cherish. Of course, LeBron James got into his ear early in the series for passing up an open shot in a viral clip.
KCP played 25 minutes in Game 3 before heading to the locker room and was listed as questionable coming into the afternoon. Unfortunately, he won't be able to play as the Lakers will rest him and hope he can recover quickly.
Nonetheless, he will be missed and the Lakers will have to use some form of Wesley Matthews and perhaps Talen Horton-Tucker and Kyle Kuzma in bigger roles.
The good news is they are up 2-1 and can head back to Phoenix with a 3-1 series lead if they can win on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center.
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