Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis will be reevaluated in two to three weeks after suffering a calf strain on Sunday and is unlikely to return to the lineup before the NBA’s March 5-10 All-Star break. sources told ESPN.
Davis missed two games last week with a right Achilles tendonitis and had to leave Sunday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets shortly before the break after the injury worsened.
On Monday, an MRI revealed a strain on the calf and a worsening of the right Achilles tendon, a source told ESPN, but did not show a rupture of the right Achilles tendon.
In a statement, the Lakers said Davis will go out against the Timberwolves on Tuesday and will be further evaluated by the Los Angeles team’s doctors.
The Lakers and Davis will be conservative on a timeline for his return to the game. Just before the MRI, general manager Rob Pelinka, Davis and agent Rich Paul discussed taking their time to get Davis back on the line, sources told ESPN.
Davis suffered an injury at the end of the second quarter of Sunday’s game, when he led Nikola Jokic and hit his feet with the Nuggets center. Jokic’s right knee came in contact with Davis’ right quad. When Davis collected his dribble after the foul was called and planted his leg, he seemed to aggravate his lower right leg.
Davis stayed in the game to make two free throws, scoring both, then checked with 2:36 left in the second quarter and limped into the locker room with Lakers athletic coach Jon Ishop by his side.
The nine-year veteran has been experiencing discomfort in his right lower leg for weeks and underwent an ultrasound last weekend, which confirmed the injury.
Davis eliminated 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 on 16-for-27 shooting – two off his season score. He was convinced that he was in no hurry to return too soon, even though he admitted that he was in pain towards the end of the game in Memphis.
Davis scored 15 points in 14 minutes with four rebounds and one assist before coming out of Sunday’s game.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.