Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis will be re-evaluated in two to three weeks after suffering a calf strain on Sunday and is unlikely to return to the lineup ahead of the March 5-10 All-Star Break of the NBA, sources told ESPN.
Davis missed two games with tendinosis in his right Achilles last week and had to leave Sunday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets shortly before halftime after aggravating the injury.
An MRI on Monday revealed calf strain and worsening tendinosis in the right Achilles tendon, a source told ESPN, but showed no right Achilles tendon rupture.
In a statement, the Lakers said Davis will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday and will be further evaluated by team doctors in Los Angeles.
The Lakers and Davis will be conservative on a timeline for his return to play. Even prior to the MRI, General Manager Rob Pelinka, Davis and Agent Rich Paul discussed taking time for Davis’s return to the lineup, sources told ESPN.
Davis suffered the injury late in the second quarter of Sunday’s game, when he hit Nikola Jokic and bumped legs with the center of Nuggets. Jokic’s right knee made contact with Davis’s right quad. When Davis gathered his dribble after the foul called and planted his foot, he appeared to aggravate his right lower leg.
Davis stayed in the game to take two free throws, both, then checked with 2:36 left in the second quarter and limped to the locker room with Lakers assistant athletic coach Jon Ishop by his side.
The nine-year veteran has been experiencing discomfort in his right lower leg for weeks and had an ultrasound last weekend, which confirmed the injury.
Davis sat two games against the Oklahoma City Thunder and returned for Friday’s 115-105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, against whom he scored 35 points in 16-for-27 shootings – scoring two high in his season. He was adamant that he wasn’t rushing back too soon, even though he acknowledged feeling pain towards the end of the Memphis match.
Davis scored 15 points in 14 minutes with four rebounds and an assist before leaving Sunday’s game.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.