LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers grabs his thigh after … [+]
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis is officially listed as questionable for Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday, but there is “pessimism” surrounding his status, according to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Davis sat out the second half of Phoenix’s 100-92 victory in Game 4 on Sunday after injuring his groin. He entered the game with a knee injury as well.
“I’m hearing a lot of pessimism around Anthony Davis about his availability on Tuesday night for that really important Game 5 with Phoenix,” Wojnarowski said Monday evening on SportsCenter. “Normally this groin injury might be something that would keep you out 7-10 days. The hope is that he would return in this series. Obviously there’s going to be a Game 6, but right now not a lot of optimism for him to return [Tuesday] in that Game 5 but he has not been ruled out. They’ll see how he feels [Tuesday] in Phoenix.”
The defending champion Lakers could have to play two of the remaining games on the road, with both Game 5 and a potential Game 7 slated for Phoenix.
“He’s listed as questionable but he’s literally day-to-day,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said Tuesday. “We’ll see how he feels [Tuesday] and overnight we’ll do everything we can and we’ll see where he’s at [Tuesday].”
If he’s unable to go, there will be even more pressure on LeBron James to carry the scoring and leadership roles for the Lakers.
“These shoulders were built for a reason,” James said after Game 4. “So, if it takes for me to put some more on top of it, then so be it. Win, lose or draw, I’m ready for the challenge.”
James led the Lakers in points (25), rebounds (12) and assists (six) on Sunday, making him the oldest player in NBA postseason history to do so.
“When I competed against the Miami Heat, and either [Dwyane] Wade or [Chris] Bosh was out, that meant more touches for Bron,” Vogel said. “And that wasn’t always a good thing for my Pacers teams.”
