Lakers’ All-Star Anthony Davis left Monday’s game early after experience back spasms but he says he’s fine.
Anthony Davis exited the Los Angeles Lakers’ 135-115 Game 4 blowout of the Portland Trail Blazers early after feeling some back spasms.
Fortunately for Lakers fans, Davis said it’s nothing serious and he’ll be ready to go for Game 5.
Davis played just 18 minutes in his team’s dominant performance, and the Lakers comfortable lead throughout the game (including a 15-0 run off the jump) allowed Davis to prioritize his health. He was subbed out for good with 9:21 remaining in the third quarter with L.A. leading 91-53.
After a brief trip to the locker room, Davis returned with an electric stimulation device wrapped around his lower back and stood by the team’s bench for the rest of the game.
Davis told Spectrum SportsNet after the game that the Lakers’ medical staff was being extra-precautionary with his back.
“I’ll be fine,” he added.
Prior to the back spasms, Davis was dominant on both ends
AD was outstanding in the minutes he did play. He scored 18 points (5-8 FG, 8-10 FT), adding five rebounds, five assists, and two blocks — good for a +37(!). His impact across all facets of the game clearly impressed his head coach, Frank Vogel, per ESPN:
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a plus-37 in 17 minutes type of performance like I did from Anthony Davis on both sides of the ball tonight. What he did defensively, he had one play where he had two deflections on both sides of the guy he was guarding and then dove on the floor and got a loose ball and got us going on the break. Several blocks, deflections, containment plays. He was all over the place on the defensive end and he was making everything. Just a dominant performance.”
A red-hot LeBron James controlled the action with or without Davis, finishing with 30 points (10-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 on 3-pointers), 10 assists, and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes (+17).
Overall, the Lakers shot 56.3 percent from the field for the night, including 17-for-39 (43.6 percent) from downtown on Mamba Day.
They’ll look to close out Portland on Wednesday (9 p.m. ET, TNT).