The Los Angeles Lakers went into Wednesday looking to extend the team’s lead over the Memphis Grizzlies to 2-0. With no Ja Morant in the game, it looked like the Lakers were going to have an easy go of things.
Los Angeles got off to an extremely ugly start that saw the team trailing by 11 at the end of the first quarter. Then, three minutes into the second quarter, Lakers fans once again felt their hearts drop to their stomachs as Anthony Davis was busted open by a wild elbow from Desmond Bane on a jump ball.
Anthony Davis caught an elbow from Desmond Bane on this jump ball 😬 pic.twitter.com/iugHNVZvwQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 20, 2023
Davis had to go to the sideline to get the cut closed and Bane was called for a foul. While scary, Davis was able to return to the game instantly and did not miss any time because of the elbow.
Lakers fans are right to panic at Anthony Davis getting elbowed.
While Davis ended up being okay, any time there is any sort of contact with the big man it is worrisome for Lakers fans. The team’s title hopes start and end with Davis being healthy and if he were to get knocked out there would be no reasonable chance for the team to make the Finals.
Plus, it is not like Davis has the best injury history in the league. He has missed a sizeable amount of time in each of the last three season and his injury in the NBA Playoffs in 2021 is the reason why the Lakers were eliminated.
Add in the fact that Anthony Davis had a very real injury scare in Game 1 of this series and it is starting to feel like Lakers fans are going to have to be on the edge of their seats every single game. It would not be surprising if Davis averages one very real injury scare per game.
Memphis is known for being a physical team and if the Lakers continue to extend their lead in the series then the hope has to be that the Grizzlies don’t get any ideas. It might have been an incidental elbow this time but you never know what could happen as this series progresses. Just ask Draymond Green and Domantas Sabonis.