LOS ANGELES (AP) — If Lakers fans didn’t know by now how important Anthony Davis is to their team’s post-season hopes, they got a significant reminder Saturday night.
Los Angeles’ All-Star centre suffered an eye injury late in the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors and did not play the rest of the game.
With Davis in the locker room getting worked on by trainers, the Warriors dominated the paint in posting a 128-121 victory over the Lakers in a pivotal Western Conference matchup.
“They missed Anthony big time. He’s such a great defender when he’s in the paint. His absence opened the paint for us and we went to the rim often in the second half,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
The Lakers described Davis’ injury as an eye contusion.
The nine-time All-Star took a stray elbow to the left eye by Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis while driving to the basket for a layup with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter. Davis kept playing for the next few minutes, but his eye was swollen shut as he went to the locker room. He had eight points and four rebounds.
“When you lose AD, it just hurts the balance of our team,” said LeBron James, who had 40 points.
Following the game, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that Davis would be monitored overnight and Sunday to determine his status going forward.
Davis, who is averaging 24.5 points and 12.3 rebounds, has missed only four games this season due to hip injuries. The Lakers’ next game is Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks.
Coach Darvin Ham said Davis had some blurred vision in the eye, but had no further update.
Los Angeles is currently ninth in the West with a 36-31 record, only one game ahead of Golden State.
— with files from Sportsnet