Lakers’ Anthony Davis aggravates Achilles issue against Nuggets
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In the last week, caution has generally reigned for Anthony Davis, who took two games off after getting a scan of a right Achilles tendon that has been causing him pain for a few weeks.
But once you return to the court, you can’t control everything.
A mid-game collision between Davis and Denver star Nikola Jokic seemed incidental and perhaps even glancing at first: The two big men knocked legs as Davis attempted to drive against Jokic toward the basket. But Davis pulled up grimacing, apparently having aggravated the right calf that has troubled him recently.
After sinking two free throws, Davis gingerly walked off the court, favoring his right ankle and heading straight to the locker room. He did not return to the game immediately after halftime, scoring 15 points in just 14 minutes. Kyle Kuzma started the third quarter in his place.
Davis hadn’t looked worse for the rest since returning Friday in a 35-point effort against the Memphis Grizzlies, but even after the game, he acknowledged he still is feeling pain there. Several times during the contest, he flexed his ankle as if working out stiffness there.
“As you play, I’m always using that Achilles’ tendon,” he said. “It got sore towards the end from just constantly moving on it. But it felt great coming to the game, felt great throughout the game, but late game it was kind of bothering me a little bit.”
Davis said his condition — which the Lakers have reported as tendonosis but which Davis said was not affecting his tendon directly but a related part of the anatomy — would improve with rest, but he was also trying to play through some of his discomfort. Davis has already missed five games this season since signing a max contract with the Lakers in December.
“It’s not the actual tendon, which is why it’s comfortable to play, to get it loose,” he said. “So the doctors and training staff feel comfortable enough for me to go out there and perform as well. So it’s something that’s gonna continue to get better, constantly doing treatment on it throughout the day, throughout the night, and wearing stuff in my shoes to help out the pain level and wearing tape and all these things to make it feel better throughout the course of time.”
Davis came into the game averaging 22.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. The team is 4-1 without him.
Frank Vogel said coaches were trying to be attentive to Davis’ discomfort. The Lakers intended to ramp up Davis’ minutes earlier as the season progressed, but noted that it hasn’t been possible with Davis’ nagging injuries.
“We came into the ramp-up thinking, ‘Let’s play the first nine and maybe the second seven or eight of the second quarter, and we’ll build up,’ he said. “But we haven’t really been able to build up because he’s been having these minor setbacks with these nagging injuries. So we’re still in that space with him, and obviously if he’s having discomfort on the court, and we need to get him out, we’ll get him out.”
NBA ref sidelined for COVID-19 protocols
An NBA rarity took place on Sunday night as the Lakers-Nuggets game was officiated with two referees.
The NBA announced prior to the game that crew chief James Williams was not available due to health and safety protocols. Mark Ayotte and Jacyn Goble officiated with a two-man team. NBA games had previously been officiated by two referees before the 1988-99 season.