Is Anthony Davis playing tonight against the Grizzlies? Latest on Lakers superstar's status (Dec. 15)
Anthony Davis is expected to suit up for the struggling LA Lakers when they host the belligerent Memphis Grizzlies at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. The Western Conference showdown pits one of the best guards in the league against one of the most dominant two-way players in the modern-day NBA.
Davis is listed as probable as he continues to deal with his heel injury. Diagnosed as left plantar fasciitis, the center has played through the issue and is a certain starter on Sunday. Barring any last-minute downgrades, Anthony Davis is expected to play for LA as they look to bounce back to winning ways.
Anthony Davis rues woeful offense in Lakers' 97-87 loss to Timberwolves
The Lakers head back home on the back of a 97-87 loss to the Timberwolves. With LeBron James taking time off from the team, much depended on Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves, who came back into the lineup after missing games to a pelvic injury.
The sputtering offense cost LA the game, and Davis rued that LA didn't do enough on the front. He also added that the side needed to figure things out in James' absence. Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha:
"I think we did enough defensively. Just didn’t do enough offensively. I mean, (we have) Christian (Koloko), Rui — myself, just got to figure it out. No matter who’s playing, we got to figure it out with the five guys on the floor."
Davis has played 24 games this season averaging 27.2 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks. He's shooting 52.7% from the field and 30.9% from the three-point range.
The Lakers have been inconsistent this season and a loss on Sunday will see them slip to .500 for the first time this season. Their remaining slate of games in December does not get easier as health and erratic performances on both ends of the floor have compounded their woes.
Anthony Davis and James are in dire need of support, and with the NBA 2024-25's trade window unofficially open, LA's front office will need to put the right pieces alongside their star duo to help them be contenders.