LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Lakers handled the New York Knicks with relative ease on Tuesday night at the Staples Center. The struggling Knicks couldn't keep up with the red-hot Lakers, even when superstar Anthony Davis went down with a back injury early in the second half and didn't return.
Despite blowing out the Knicks by 30, the Lakers may have a real problem moving forward. Davis' back injury wasn't pretty and may cost him some time with Los Angeles needing someone other than LeBron James to help pick up the slack. Forward Kyle Kuzma might be the player the head coach Frank Vogel looks to in order to fill the void.
Kuzma talked about Davis' injury after the game and reflected on going through a similar injury in the past.
“It was a scary fall,” Kuzma said of Davis' injury. “I fell on my tailbone once like that, and it wasn't broken or anything like that – I just had a bruise – and it really, really hurt. So I kind of know what he's going through trying to walk and sort things out. But we were able to just keep that lead and momentum while he was out and got a win.”
Fortunately for Davis and the Lakers, the back injury doesn't appear to be as serious as it looked on Tuesday night. Davis fell hard and was clearly in pain as he struggled to walk on his way to the locker room. However, Davis will travel with the team on their upcoming two-game road trip when they face the Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder on a back-to-back this weekend.
As for Kuzma, the 24-year-old forward will ready if his number is called to fill the void for Davis. The third-year forward has struggled as of late with his shooting leaving something to be desired, but he'll embrace the opportunity to step up with Davis potentially missing some time.
“Coach always talks about ‘next man up,' and I just feel like with opportunity, I'll be fine,” Kuzma said.
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