The Los Angeles Lakers have had an injury-plagued second half of the 2020-21 season. Also as the playoffs approach, Frank Vogel’s squad struggles to function without LeBron James, and Anthony Davis has been out for more than two months due to a leg injury. Following that, the Lakers are in a real fight for playoff positioning, desperately seeking to escape the play-in tournament and the uncertainty that comes with a win-or-go-home situation. With that backdrop, another injury setback is the furthest thing from anyone’s mind in Los Angeles, and a scare arrived on Thursday.
Davis left a nationally broadcast game against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first quarter with what seemed to be an ankle injury.
Davis was not instantly sidelined by the illness, as he only played nine minutes in the first half, but he was not in the locker room when the Lakers emerged. Davis eventually left the game with back spasms, not an ankle injury, according to the Lakers.
Davis has a history of getting hurt with relatively minor ailments, so if that’s what this is, expect a lot of exhales of relief. At the same time, the Lakers’ margin for error is extremely narrow right now, particularly with James struggling with an ankle injury that could limit him when the lights come on. Further information will likely emerge after the game but, for now, Davis is dealing with a back issue and the Lakers need all the help they can get.
