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Los Angeles Lakers All-Star big-man Anthony Davis will miss Thursday's game against the Detroit Pistons, the team announced this afternoon, via ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
Anthony Davis (right quad contusion) is out tonight, the Lakers say.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 28, 2021
Davis suffered a right knee contusion during Wednesday's grueling last-second loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. With the Lakers traveling overnight and on the second leg of a back-to-back, it's no surprise that Davis will sit this one out.
AD battled with Joel Embiid throughout the rough-and-tumble affair at the Wells Fargo Center, despite visibly injuring his knee in the first half. He could be seen favoring his knee on certain possessions and received treatment on the sideline for chunks of the game.
Despite the ailment, Davis put up 24 points and eight rebounds in 34 minutes against the Sixers and scored what looked like the game-winning basket on the possession before Tobias Harris' jumper sank L.A. with 2.5 seconds remaining.
After the game, Davis downplayed the extent of the injury.
“I had a little brush burn on my knee from the court,” he told reporters. “And it was like bothering me on my tights, just rubbing against it. So, I was trying to pull those tights off it. But I feel physically fine, and we’ve got a long season to go. So just trying to stay physically ready for every night, coming off a short offseason.”
As Davis exited the presser, though, he delivered an ominous response when asked about his status for the Pistons clash.
“You'll see tomorrow,” he said moments before the Zoom session ended.
Furthermore, the Detroit game will mark the fifth game for the Lakers on their season-long seven-game road swing. The team had opened the season with a franchise-record-setting 10 consecutive road victories before falling to the Sixers. L.A. will face the Boston Celtics on Saturday and the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
It will also mark the third missed game of the season for Davis. His absence can be considered pre-cautionary (certainly, he would play in the playoff game), though he's dealt with a slew of minor bumps and bruises throughout the year. He has repeatedly been listed as “questionable” on the team's injury report this season, as has LeBron James (left ankle sprain).
https://twitter.com/hmfaigen/status/1354889870649380864
As The Athletic's Jovan Buha pointed out, Davis has missed one leg of three different back-to-backs this season.
This is the third time Davis has missed one end of a Lakers back-to-back. He has played in both games of a back-to-back just once this season. https://t.co/zD0WugHvln
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) January 28, 2021
There's a chance James will miss this matchup in Motown, as well. The 18-year veteran—who dropped 34 points in 39 minutes in Philly coming off a 46-point masterpiece in Cleveland—has not missed a game this season. We'll keep you posted on that front.
At age 36, James is averaging 25.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game and is the arguable frontrunner for MVP. (Oddly enough, he hasn't played in Detroit since joining the Lakers, as he rested for the team's visit in 2018-19 and last season's game was canceled due to the pandemic.)
James is averaging 33 minutes over 19 games, which would mark a career-low.
AD is averaging 21.9 points and 8.8 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game and has yet to truly settle into a groove on offense. He remains dominant on defense and as a screen-setter, and his improved passing has been a hot topic around the team.
In his absence, head coach Frank Vogel will either insert Kyle Kuzma, Markieff Morris, or Montrezl Harrell into the starting lineup. Marc Gasol will continue to start at center.
Kuzma has excelled at the little things this year, embracing a team-first supporting role and setting career-highs in offensive rebounding, blocks, and other hustle stats. If Davis—and especially James—don't play, Kuzma (9.4 points per game) will surely be called upon to pick up the scoring load.
Harrell has played inspired ball in his first season in purple and gold (19.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per-36 minutes on 62.7 percent shooting), but Vogel may prefer to keep him in his role as a second-unit spark plug. Morris … plays bigger than he is on defense?
Detroit is expected to have a fully healthy roster—including Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin—with the exception of rookie Killian Hayes, who remains out with a labral tear in his hip.
The Lakers (14-5) and struggling Pistons (4-14) will tip-off at 8 p.m. ET at Little Caesars Arena.
