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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Lakers have stunned their critics in the last two games, defeating the Suns and then the Knicks. Considering the upcoming ties for the LA-based team, one can predict that they might not need to be in the play-in situation if their current form continues. 

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

However, there is one problem, and it is Anthony Davis. Right when the star forward was enjoying a promising comeback, another injury scare has clouded his status. In the 101-99 OT win against the Knicks, the Lakers’ big man hurt himself.

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Is it something that Anthony Davis’ fans must worry about?

Considering the fact he was visibly limping after the game, there surely are concerns hanging over his condition. However, the injury is nothing as serious as LeBron James’ ankle sprain. But in Anthony Davis’ own words, “I’m hurting. … My groin got tight.” It appeared that his chances of showing up against the Rockets are not 100%.

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Still, the 28-YO sounded positive about the recovery and expressed –

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Now, AD played close to 44 minutes in the important night against the Knicks. Although he struggled (34.8% FG) to score, his plus-minus of +7 proved that his floor availability was of help to the unit.

Read also – Knicks’ Julius Randle Bullies Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Completes a Tough Layup

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What happens if AD sits out in the Lakers’ next game?

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To sum it up, that would not hurt the Lakers much. Firstly, their next game is against the league-bottom Rockets and so the challenge is low. Second, there are good chances of LeBron James returning from his injury to play on Wednesday night, further strengthening the Lake Show. He and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can cover for that defense part as they did prior to the star’s injury.

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Plus, the way Andre Drummond (16 points & 18 boards) and Kyle Kuzma (23 points & a steal) played against the Knicks, coach Vogel can rest assured that they can handle the H-Town without AD. Also, not to forget the game-winning clutch three from Talen Horton-Tucker, who has been a great rotation weapon in this season. 

So all-in-all, it can be a good strategy even if the Lakers decide to rest AD for a game before playing the Pacers and the Pelicans. As of now, the chances are strong that the Lakers can find themselves in the top six. Do you agree with this prediction? Help us know what you think in the comments.

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Sourabh Singh

1,743 Articles

Sourabh Singh is the Editor-in-Chief at EssentiallySports. A Sports Management diploma holder, Sourabh began his media career in 2015 at a fast-growing startup. He started out as a sports writer covering the NBA, UFC, Tennis, and the off-field lives of American athletes, before transitioning into a Managing Editor role. Thereafter, Sourabh joined ES in 2020, marking an end to a brief stint at Decathlon. Since then, he has led the editorial team with a sharp focus on journalistic integrity, accuracy, and mentorship. Under his leadership, the team has grown into a dynamic newsroom that consistently delivers trusted sports coverage to millions of satisfied readers.

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