Lakers’ Win Brings Them to Seventh Place in the Western Conference
In the third quarter of the Lakers vs Timberwolves game on Friday night, Lakers star Anthony Davis appeared to have rolled his ankle, causing concern for Lakers’ fans. Despite his injury, Davis remained in the game, and his impressive performance helped secure a 123-111 win against Minnesota.
Davis finished the game with 38 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocked shots while playing for 37 minutes. The Lakers’ win brought them to a 39-38 record and seventh place in the Western Conference.
Head Coach Darvin Ham Unfazed by Davis’ Injury
Head coach Darvin Ham didn’t seem too concerned about Davis’ injury, stating that he had already started the treatment process for the twisted ankle. Although there is a chance that Davis’ ankle will stiffen up overnight and affect his availability for the next game against Houston Rockets on Sunday, Ham said he doesn’t expect it to be a significant factor moving forward.
Lakers Struggle Before Davis Steps Up and Leads Them to Victory
Before Davis sustained his ankle injury early in the third quarter, the Lakers were trailing by ten points at halftime, struggling offensively against the Timberwolves. However, after Davis’ injury scare and subsequent return to the court, the Lakers went on a 24-2 run.
Davis was dominant, scoring several times against Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns even though he was limping for much of the second half due to his ankle injury. The Lakers’ defense improved after Davis returned to action, leading to turnovers by Minnesota that fed into their transition game.
Despite not being 100% during the fourth quarter, Davis stood tall as he led his team to victory single-handedly.
Gobert Refrains from Taking Advantage of Davis’ Injury Out of Sportsmanship
To minimize the Lakers’ chances of winning, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert had an opportunity to take advantage of Davis’ ankle injury. However, he opted not to and played fair.
This gesture did not go unnoticed by fans and other players alike, who appreciated his sportsmanship on the court.
Davis Confirms Availability for Next Game Against Houston Rockets
Following the game, Davis insisted that his ankle was fine and confirmed that he would play against Houston Rockets on Sunday. The Lakers will also play against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday before facing off against their rivals the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Conclusion
Despite an ankle injury scare, Anthony Davis put in a dominant performance to lead the Lakers to victory against the Timberwolves. Fans will be hoping that his injury won’t become a significant factor in their upcoming games as they seek to cement their place in the Western Conference.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
