CLERMONT — With flu-like symptoms, Anthony Davis, the star big man for the Los Angeles Lakers, left the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first half on Tuesday night and did not come back.
The team concluded that the sickness is not COVID-19-related. Prior to tipoff, Davis developed a temperature in the afternoon. Davis received fluids and medicine from the Lakers’ training staff after they took him out of the game.
Anthony Davis is the only member of the Lakers’ roster who is presently ill, according to coach Darvin Ham after the game.
Davis’ illness “progressively became worse,” according to Ham. “His fever increased; I think it was 101 degrees and change. He promised to test it out, which he actually did. But he was just too exhausted, too weak, and somewhat dehydrated. However, it is that time of year when travel from Los Angeles to these many locations involves winter, weather changes, and climatic changes.”
Davis travelled with the team on Tuesday night’s trip to Toronto; whether or not he will play in the second game of the back-to-back against the Raptors will depend on how he feels on Wednesday afternoon, according to Ham. On their current six-game road trip, the Los Angeles Lakers are 2-1.
There are still contests left against Toronto, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Detroit Pistons.
In eight minutes on Tuesday, Davis had just one score overall, making just one of three free throw attempts, along with three rebounds and two assists. Anthony Davis.
Despite his absence, the Lakers won thanks in large part to LeBron James’ 21 points and season-high 17 rebounds. With 8 minutes, 32 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 92. The Cavaliers then went on a 21-6 run over the next 5 minutes, 10 seconds to completely blow the game open. For the first time in James’ nine years of playing against the Cavaliers, Cleveland won the season series 2-0.
Donovan Mitchell received “MVP” shouts from the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse audience after scoring 17 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter—a chant usually reserved for James all those years.
James praised Mitchell for his “excellent job of piercing our gaps, making some tough shots all night, and getting into a real comfortable comfort.” But he’s a unique child, I say.
In his previous nine games, Davis had averaged 35.3 points, 15.6 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks on 64.8% field goal, 45.5% three-point, and 88% foul shooting shooting.
He helped Los Angeles to a three-game winning streak going into the Cavaliers game on Monday and was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week.
When asked how the Lakers (10-13) can survive without Davis, James said, “Next man up.” “But that is a difficult task. appreciate what AD has been doing for us over the past two weeks, both metaphorically and physically.”
Tuesday, Thomas Bryant, who came off the bench, filled in for Davis’ minutes with a season-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook each finished with 16 points. Beyond Mitchell’s masterful play, the Lakers committed 16 turnovers as opposed to just 8 for the Cavaliers, and as a team they shot 6-for-36 (16.7%) from 3-point range.
“Man, I salute our troops. They put their all into competing. Clearly, that’s a major blow “said Ham. “Although it was a difficult task, our soldiers took part. I’m disappointed, but not angry. Our lads put up a fierce fight.”
