UPDATE: Wednesday morning brought good news in Los Angeles. Anthony Davis underwent an MRI on the injury he appeared to suffer against the New York Knicks the prior evening, and according to Shams Charania, the indication is that he suffered nothing more than a bruise. In fact, Davis is prepared to travel with the team for its upcoming two-game Texas swing against the Mavericks and Spurs.
MRI results on Lakers star Anthony Davis’ lower back injury returned clean and he plans to travel with team on two-game road trip (Dallas, OKC), league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 8, 2020
After scary fall Tuesday night in Los Angeles, Davis underwent MRI that showed lower back injury is a bruise, league sources said. Positive news for Davis and the Lakers. https://t.co/314ZPDurwQ
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 8, 2020
EARLIER: The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a potentially big loss in their 117-87 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday evening. During the game’s third quarter, which saw L.A. comfortably ahead of their foe from the other side of the country, Anthony Davis went up to contest an attempt at the rim by Knicks forward Julius Randle.
Davis was called for a foul on the play, but his path back to earth wasn’t exactly smooth. The All-NBA big man fell hard on his lower back and was in serious pain as he rolled around on the ground. Here’s a video of what happened.
https://twitter.com/DimeUPROXX/status/1214777439110549505
While Davis was able to walk off and head to the locker room, he did so rather gingerly, and it was evident that he wasn’t anywhere near 100 percent.
Anthony Davis left for the locker room after a hard fall in the 3rd quarter. pic.twitter.com/ye0RBxg5Po
— ESPN (@espn) January 8, 2020
Losing Davis for any extended period of time would be a gigantic blow to a Lakers squad that sits atop the Western Conference, but in a bit of good news, his agent, Rich Paul, told reporters that x-rays on his lower back came back negative.
X-rays on Anthony Davis' lower back came back negative, according to his agent Rich Paul. Davis, is sore though, per Paul.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 8, 2020
Having said that, there was no reason for Davis to risk anything. As such, the team announced that he suffered a sacral contusion and that he would not be able to return to the game.
The Lakers are officially calling Davis' injury a sacral contusion — which is located above the tailbone. The team reiterated that X-rays were negative. Davis will not return to the game.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 8, 2020
Davis had a relatively quiet night up to this point, scoring five points, hauling in six rebounds, and dishing out five assists prior to his exit. The Lakers have road tilts against the Mavericks and Thunder on Friday and Saturday before returning home for a pair of games against the Cavaliers and Magic on the 13th and 15th, respectively.
