LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis will not play Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a right calf contusion, Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel said after morning training.
“Well, we just want to be responsible,” Vogel told a video conference with reporters. – We want to keep an eye on him.
Vogel said Davis suffered an injury on the opening night against the Clippers, then aggravated it again in the third quarter of the Lakers’ Christmas victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Davis, 27, has an average of 23 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the first two games of the season.
The Lakers play back-to-back games against Minnesota, followed by a playoff rematch with the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday.
Vogel said the Lakers do not have an established policy on how they intend to play the big two, Davis and LeBron James, back in this season.
“We will address each of them throughout the year, on a case-by-case basis,” Vogel said. “And with the expectation that our boys will play both games, unless there’s a different reason. And in this case, there’s a different reason with Anthony’s calf. We’ll continue to evaluate this throughout the year.”
James is expected to play both games, Vogel added. “We want to take advantage of our depth and be smart with this injury,” he said.