LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis missed the second half of the Lakers’ 100-92 loss to the Suns on Sunday with a groin strain.
A source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Davis will be there day by day.
Davis missed a güira with 48.3 seconds remaining in the second quarter and collapsed to the ground. He was slow to get up, clutching his groin area as play continued at the other end of the floor, and did not return to play after halftime.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after the game that Davis, who did not speak to reporters, is undergoing further evaluation and would have more information on Monday. “
“You know, he’s one of the best players in the world, so you have to adapt,” Vogel said. “And I thought we went to great lengths to try to get over that loss, but it certainly wasn’t enough.”
The best-of-seven series is now tied 2-2. Game 5 is Tuesday.
LeBron James, who finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 turnovers, was asked if he’s ready to take on a bigger role if Davis is limited in the future.
“For me, it is putting our team in a position to be successful,” he stressed. “It starts with my focus, my responsibility, it trickles down to everyone else. So, you know, these ‘shoulders’ are built for a reason. If it takes me to put a little more on top, so be it. Win, lose or draw, I’m up for the challenge. “
Los Angeles was 11-7 during the regular season when James played and Davis didn’t.
Davis entered the game playing with a sprained left knee suffered in Game 3, when he landed awkwardly after executing a chase block on Suns star Devin Booker.
He averaged 34 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2 blocks in Games 2 and 3 of the series to give the seventh-seeded Lakers a 2-1 lead over the Suns. Davis finished Game 4 with six points on 2-of-9 shooting with four rebounds in 19 minutes.
Kyle Kuzma started the third quarter at Davis’ place and finished with 11 points on 4 of 11 shooting.
The Lakers also played without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was ruled out before the game with a sore left knee.
“Obviously we have derailed this year, but at the same time, we have had a bad time,” said Kuzma. “So, we have to figure it out. We just have to figure it out.”
Kuzma said the Lakers were “still optimistic,” but said Davis’s absence clearly ruined Los Angeles’ game plan, with Phoenix outscoring the Lakers 27-15 in the third quarter when the power forward did not emerge from the locker room. halftime.
“We are tailor-made for a type of basketball when AD is there,” Kuzma said. “And obviously he wasn’t there,” he pointed out.
.
