Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis worsened tendinosis in his right Achilles tendon, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, and was eliminated in the second half in Sunday’s loss of 122-105 to Denver.
Davis missed two games earlier this week due to an injury. The Lakers officially called it a proper Achilles strain and said Davis will undergo an MRI on Monday.
Davis, 27, was listed as questionable before the game, but he started with the Lakers looking to extend their seven-game winning streak.
Davis pushed Nikola Jokic away late in the second quarter and his legs collided with the Nuggets center: Jokic’s right knee made contact with Davis’s right quadriceps. When Davis picked up his pot after the error called and planted his foot, it seemed to aggravate his right leg. He grabbed his leg under the calf after the foul was called.
Davis stayed in the game to take two free throws, both, then took off with 2:36 left in the second quarter and limped into the locker room with Lakers assistant fitness trainer 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.
Before returning to play in Friday’s 115-105 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, when he scored 35 points on 16 of the 27 shootings, two short of his season high in scoring, Davis shared his thought process on the injury with reporters.
“I think all the other games … that I wanted to play, this is a different circumstance, since it’s an Achilles. If it was a quad or a finger, something like that, I wouldn’t mind playing,” Davis he said Thursday. “But I really don’t want to play with an Achilles.”
Davis played 35 minutes against the Grizzlies, but was dropped with the win in hand after pain.
“It could go away, of course with rest and things like that, but I’m trying not to rest so I’m trying to keep it as loose as possible,” Davis said on Friday.
Davis said his Achilles tendon was not involved, but the tissue surrounding it was bothering him.
“Doctors and training personnel are comfortable enough to go out and perform,” he said. “It’s something that’s going to get better all the time, constantly treating him all day and night, wearing things in my shoes to ease the pain and using duct tape and all these things to make him feel better over time. and actually I’m very … able to go out and play without worrying about it. “
Davis scored 15 points in 14 minutes with four rebounds and one assist before leaving Sunday’s game.
Kyle Kuzma started the second half in place of Davis.