The Los Angeles Lakers’ tumultuous season took another hit on Thursday. To add literal injury to the insult that was another blown lead and loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, star big man Anthony Davis suffered a thumb injury late in the first half.
Davis, who made his first seven shots prior to the injury, had to miss the beginning of the third quarter while he was getting his thumb wrapped. He managed to finish the game despite the injury but was clearly limited in the second half.
After the game, Davis was asked about the injury and initially told reporters he was “fine.” He also admitted that his thumb had swollen up to the point where he could barely move it and that he was unsure if he would be able to play on Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Davis’ injury is the latest blow to a Lakers team that has not had its full assortment of players for even one preseason game yet. In the frontcourt alone, the Lakers have injuries to Trevor Ariza and LeBron James while Dwight Howard just returned from a two-game absence due to injury and played just eight minutes on Thursday.
If Davis has to miss time, that will leave the Lakers with only three frontcourt players – Howard, DeAndre Jordan, and Carmelo Anthony – until either he or James are back from their injuries. Such roster limitations would force Frank Vogel to get creative with some experimental lineups especially as the Lakers have struggled in the defensive rebounding department thus far.
Two-way contracted players Sekou Doumbouya and Jay Huff are potential options to be called up for rotation minutes.
Davis has averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds per game in what has been a bounce-back campaign for him thus far. The big man has had some other near calls with injuries this year but so far has not missed a game.
