Lakers’ Anthony Davis ‘Hurting’ After Win vs. Knicks; Status vs. Rockets TBD

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

Los Angeles Lakers power forward Anthony Davis said he was “hurting” after playing 43 minutes in Tuesday’s 101-99 overtime win over the New York Knicks.

Davis told reporters he wasn’t sure about his availability for Wednesday’s clash with the Houston Rockets:

“I’m hurting. Not more so my body, just my groin got tight. … I’m not sure about [Wednesday]. I mean, I’m going to get treatment and see how I feel. I want to say I’m going to play, but it was really bothering me tonight. We’ll see how I feel tomorrow, and then later on in the day.

“Very, very strong possibility that I fight through it and play since the next day is an off day. But I also don’t want to have this lagging and then now I’m out for a couple games.”

After Wednesday, L.A. has two days off before finishing the regular season with road games Saturday against the Indiana Pacers and Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Lakers have suffered through an injury-plagued season as they attempt to defend their NBA title. Davis was among those who missed an extended period of time, sitting out from Feb. 14 through April 22 to recover from calf and Achilles injuries.

He has remained productive when healthy, averaging 21.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 blocks across 34 appearances during the 2020-21 season.

Markieff Morris tends to see the biggest uptick in playing time when the eight-time All-Star is sidelined for L.A. Kostas Antetokounmpo and Devontae Cacok could also see more minutes at the 4.

The Lakers’ talent hasn’t come into question, but whether they could get healthy enough to make a serious charge toward their second straight title has become a major question mark in the season’s second half, with LeBron James headlining the other players to miss time.