Lakers Injury Report: All-Stars Downgraded For Raptors Game
The 42-33 Los Angeles Lakers are making a push to avoid the play-in tournament this season. But a wrench might be thrown into their plans in what would otherwise be an incredibly winnable contest. Both of the Lakers' All-Stars, center Anthony Davis and forward LeBron James, may sit out tomorrow's matchup against the 29-47 Toronto Raptors, Khobi Price of The Orange County Register reports:
Davis is grappling with a hyperextended left knee, while James is dealing with a left ankle peroneal tendinopathy. Both played exceedingly well in LA's most recent game, also against a (probably) lottery-bound Eastern Conference club in the Brooklyn Nets.
In the 116-104 victory, James scored 40 points on 13-of-17 shooting from the field (9-of-10 from long range) and 5-of-6 from the foul line, while also chipping in seven rebounds and five assists. Davis scored 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field, pulled down 14 rebounds, and blocked three shots.
Two of Davis' top backup options might also be gone. We know center Christian Wood is on the shelf, probably for the year, as he continues to recuperate from a recent left knee surgery. Backup big Jaxson Hayes is considered probable to play with a left calf contusion.
Gabe Vincent, who played 14 relatively ineffective minutes against Brooklyn in his first game back since December 20th, will once again sit while he continues to recover from his left knee effusion surgery. Forwards Cam Reddish (personal reasons) and Jarred Vanderbilt (right midfoot sprain) are both out, as is rookie guard Jalen Hood-Schifion (lumbar disc surgery).
Toronto is already missing several key players, per the league's latest injury report. The Raptors are resting players for suspiciously tank-tastic reasons, including "rest" (guard Gary Trent Jr.) and of course "personal reasons" (Jontay Porter -- those reasons are, uh, kind of everybody's business). The club is also going to be without wing Ochai Agbaji (right hip contusion), All-Star forward Scottie Barnes (a fractured left metacarpal on his left hand), power forward/center Chris Boucher (partial right knee MCL tear), and shooting guard D.J. Carton (right ankle sprain).
