Lakers News: Anthony Davis Heads to Locker Room With Apparent Right Shoulder Injury
This is what we get for celebrating your Los Angeles Lakers' clean bill of health and the Memphis Grizzlies' busier injury report.
Injury-prone star Lakers center Anthony Davis appears to be injured again, before the end of the first half for LA's first playoff game of the year.
Upon colliding with Grizzlies All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. while wrestling under the rim to rebound a missed Austin Reaves layup attempt, Davis appeared to injure his right shoulder.
In the above video capture via Doug McKain of Lakers 248, Davis can be seen telling LA's staff on the sideline, "I can't move my arm." That's never what you want to hear from arguably your most important player.
After being helped to his feet, Davis wasn't able to move the right arm, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN, and looked to the bench to be subbed out of the contest. MacMahon's teammate on the Worldwide Leader, Dave McMenamin, reported that Davis subsequently had his right shoulder examined by Los Angeles medical personnel on the team's bench, describing the ailment as a "stinger."
MacMahon notes that AD was then escorted to the visitors' locker room for further evaluation. Davis had enjoyed an excellent two-way start, playing intimidating post defense while hunting for his shot on offense, but had been notably more passive in the game's second quarter, with the Grizzlies making a point to double-team him by the paint.
Our fingers are crossed that the eight-time All-Star big man can return for the game's second half. If he misses extended time during this series with an injury (as he did during LA's last playoff appearance, an eventual six-game loss to the Phoenix Suns in 2021), LA is doomed.
The Lakers trail the Grizzlies, 65-59, at the break, after Los Angeles had led by as much as a 10 points earlier in the first half.
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