NBA Injury Report: Anthony Davis out, Luka Doncic out and more updates on Karl-Anthony Towns and Kyrie Irving | March 15, 2023
Eight-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis will not play on Wednesday night for the LA Lakers versus the Houston Rockets. Darvin Ham announced after the Lakers’ win over the New Orleans Pelicans that the superstar big man is still not cleared to play in back-to-back games.
In a post-game interview, Davis gave a clear picture regarding the team’s stance when it comes to his injury status:
"It's tough. ... But before I even came back, the doctors and the organization discussed that it will be best for me not to play back-to-backs 'cause of the foot, even though I'm not feeling pain.
"We're doing all the right things to make sure I'm ready to go. ... You want to go out and play but at the end of the day with an injury like that, you don’t want it to go to the other side.”
Anthony Davis admits “it’s tough” to not be cleared for B2Bs like Houston tomorrow. Even though it feels pain-free, his stress reaction an active injury. “You want to go out and play but at the end of the day with an injury like that, you don’t want it to go to the other side.” https://t.co/cilfWgQdWo
Davis had a spectacular outing against his former team, the Pelicans, on Tuesday. He played 33 minutes and finished with 35 points on 11-18 shooting and 17 rebounds. The 2020 NBA champ showed no signs of the right foot stress injury that caused him to miss 20 games from December to January.
Darvin Ham could insert Rui Hachimura or Wenyen Gabriel into the starting lineup in AD's absence. With Mo Bamba out with a sprained ankle, the Lakers will face the Houston Rockets with a decimated frontline.
Meanwhile, Luka Doncic will continue to be sidelined for the Dallas Mavericks and will miss their game against the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA superstar will miss his third straight game due to a left thigh strain. “Luka Legend” sat out in the Mavericks’ back-to-back losses to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dallas coach Jason Kidd told the media after his team’s second loss to the Grizzlies that Doncic will be considered day-to-day. The NBA All-Star point guard may still be in pain as the Mavericks have ruled him out despite their need to snap a three-game losing streak.
Luka Doncic (thigh) ruled out for Wednesday.
Jaden Hardy, who had a team-high 28 points in the loss to the Grizzlies, will likely take the place of Luka Doncic in the starting lineup.
Dallas is ninth in the Western Conference with a 34-35 record, the same win-loss slate as the LA Lakers, who will also be playing on Wednesday. The Mavericks are desperately trying to keep themselves afloat without their franchise player.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Right calf strain; Injured since: November 28, 2022
Karl-Anthony Towns has missed the Minnesota Timberwolves' last 49 games. The three-time NBA All-Star is suffering from a severe right calf strain.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch told the media in the team’s last practice that Towns had started doing 1-on-1 drills. He is, however, still prohibited from joining team activities.
Rudy Gobert (ankle), Naz Reid (calf soreness) and Austin Rivers (back spasms) are listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against Boston.
Karl-Anthony Towns (calf) and Jaylen Nowell (knee tendinopathy) remain listed as out.
Towns, the self-proclaimed best big man shooter in NBA history, will likely not be available for at least two more weeks.
“KAT” is hoping to be back on the court as soon as possible as the Minnesota Timberwolves are pushing to grab at least a spot in the play-in tournament. Jaden McDaniels will continue playing the starting power forward role until Towns returns to action.
Kyrie Irving: Sore right foot; Injured since: March 8, 2023
The Dallas Mavericks have upgraded Kyrie Irving to questionable for Wednesday night’s matchup against the San Antonio Spurs. “Uncle Drew” has missed the team’s last two games due to a sore right foot.
Kyrie Irving (foot) questionable for Wednesday.
The All-Star point guard was reportedly limited in practice, which could mean he’ll be unavailable for the third consecutive game.
Josh Green is expected to play the starting point guard tole if Irving remains out.