NBA: Lakers’ Anthony Davis exits Game 5 after blow to head

Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the second quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs at Chase Center on May 10, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images/AFP

Lakers center Anthony Davis left in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles’ loss to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday due to a head injury, raising questions about his availability moving forward in the Western Conference semifinal series.

With 7:34 left in the fourth quarter at San Francisco, Davis took an accidental elbow to the head from the Warriors’ Kevon Looney as the two went up for a rebound. Davis exited the game, briefly sat on the Los Angeles bench, then headed to the locker room and did not return to action.

After the Warriors finished a 121-106 win, forcing the series back to Los Angeles for Game 6, Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of Davis, “He took a shot to the head. He seems to be doing really good already. That’s where he’s at and the status of it right now.”

Should Davis end up in the NBA’s concussion protocol, he might miss Game 6 on Friday and possibly a Game 7, if necessary, on Sunday in San Francisco.

Davis ended the night with 23 points and nine rebounds, leaving him with averages of 22.4 points and 9.4 boards per game in the series. He contributed 20.8 points and 13.7 rebounds per contest in the Lakers’ six-game win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs.

In 56 regular-season games (54 starts) in 2022-23, Davis contributed 25.9 points and a career-high 12.5 rebounds per contest.

The eight-time All-Star teamed with LeBron James to lead the Lakers to the 2020 NBA championship in the pandemic bubble near Orlando.

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